Red flags?

This candidate refused to be interviewed claiming the whole interview was biased against him, particularly the questions sure to be asked about his father, his family, and the stolen billions in two decades. He just did not want to deal with that. That made him the only presidential candidate not to be interviewed. Netizens did not let that pass. Then he says that if elected president, he would not allow his SALN to be made public, taking a page from President Duterte who likewise did not want to divulge the same. The jury is still out in the case of Duterte.

He should know that bias works both ways as everyone will have a preferred candidate. How an interview is conducted should not worry the interviewee if he can provide answers even on the hardest and most controversial questions. It will show what he is made of. That was not the case on this one. As for his initial statement on not making his SALN public claims, they are only being used politically and weaponized to discredit. That would put him on the same page as Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

According to Article XI Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, “All public officials and employees, whether regular or under temporary status, are required to file a SALN.” Furthermore, Sec. of RA 6713 states “Public officials and employees must accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.” I don’t think there is any other way to interpret that unless you set aside the Constitution and make your own rules. As for the Prohibited Acts stated in Paragraph D of the same section, who is to decide what is to be done on published SALNs? If a SALN shows questionable gains in assets during one’s tenure in government, is it wrong to ask questions? Does the Ombudsman act against those asking questions? If there is nothing to hide, what is there to worry about? Indeed.

The candidate has since “clarified” his stand on SALNs and would be perfectly willing to release it to the public, perhaps because of the backlash. Are we starting to see red flags as the campaign period approaches? It is interesting to see what else candidates will say about themselves, their platforms and how they will serve for the betterment of the people. The debates should begin.