Palace: SALN requests must have ‘good reason’

MANILA, Philippines — Requests for copies of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) should have a “good reason” as they contain information that might compromise public officials’ safety, Malacañang said yesterday.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said while the Constitution states that SALNs are public documents, the administration cannot just allow indiscriminate freedom to access.

“We must all take note that SALN contains many details that might compromise the security, safety of the public officials concerned. Our existing rules require that any person who wants to access any SALN of any official should give a good reason,” Bersamin told reporters at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay.

Bersamin pointed out that Cabinet members are alter egos of the President and are entitled to a level of security and privacy.

“We do not have a problem if the reason is legitimate and we are satisfied that it is for a legitimate reason that the SALN is required to be accessed, we will release it with certain redactions, that is normally done,” he said.

“We do not have a denial of access. But we must control the access... The purpose must be legitimate because we do not like the SALN to be a weapon,” Bersamin added.

Government officials and personnel are required to submit their SALN on or before April 30 each year to ensure transparency and to deter corruption.

Newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has removed the restrictions on public access to SALN to enable Filipinos to determine how state workers acquire and manage their wealth.

President Marcos has expressed readiness to make available his SALN to any requesting body, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure probing the flood control mess.