Public access to SALNs takes effect November 15

MANILA, Philippines — Starting Nov. 15, the public, including members of media, may request copies of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of government officials under the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman.

This follows the publication of Memorandum Circular 3, series of 2025, issued by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, which restores public access to SALNs.

The circular has complied with the publication requirement mandated under the Civil Code.

According to a newspaper clipping provided by the ombudsman’s Public Information and Media Relations Bureau, MC 3 was published in a newspaper on Oct. 31 and takes effect 15 days after.

The Civil Code provides that all laws, as well as executive or administrative issuances with the force of law, take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Remulla issued MC 3 on Oct. 14, effectively overturning his predecessor former ombudsman Samuel Martires’ MC 1, series of 2020, which restricted the release of SALNs unless the requester had a notarized authorization from the declarant or a court order in connection with a pending case.

Under Remulla’s directive, SALN requests must be filed with the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) at the ombudsman’s central office or with the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau (PACPB) at area or sectoral offices.

“The SALN request shall be assessed by a processing officer and reviewed by the PACPO or PACPB. Requests involving grounds for denial shall be referred to the Office of Legal Affairs,” the memorandum stated.

Section 6(c) of MC 3 provides that “all requests for copies of SALNs shall be granted,” except in specific cases – such as when the ombudsman is not the repository of the requested SALN, the document is not on file, the request is for unauthorized commercial purposes, the requester has a record of misuse or the request is linked to harassment, extortion or threats.

Requests may also be denied if the requester’s identity is fictitious or the purpose is contrary to law, morals or public policy.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano earlier clarified that MC 3 only applies to SALNs filed with the ombudsman’s central office and its sectoral offices in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires all government officials and employees to file their SALNs within 30 days after assumption of office, annually on or before April 30 and within 30 days after leaving the service.

Under the law, the SALNs of the president and vice president must be transmitted to the ombudsman’s central office; those of senators and congressmen to the secretaries of their respective chambers; Supreme Court justices to the Clerk of Court of the SC and trial court judges to the Court Administrator.

National executive officials must file with the Office of the President (OP), while regional and local officials and employees must submit theirs to the deputy ombudsman in their respective regions.

Officers of the Armed Forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain must submit their SALNs to the OP, while those below these ranks must file with the regional deputy ombudsman.

Other public officials and employees covered by RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, must submit theirs to the Civil Service Commission.

Heeding the ombudsman’s call for transparency, several senators and congressmen recently released their 2024 SALNs to the media.