Palace says no problem if Ombudsman releases Duterte’s SALN

December 16, 2019

Malacanang said on Monday that there was nothing wrong if the Office of the Ombudsman would release a copy of President Rodrigo Duterte's 2018 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth ( SALN).

"How can there be any problem? That’s why he filed it," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing regarding the release of the President's SALN.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism ( PCIJ) reported that the Ombudsman has refused to release a copy of Duterte's SALN pending the anti-graft agency's issuance of the revised guidelines on public access to SALN of government officials.

According to PCIJ, it has been asking for a copy of Duterte's latest SALN since eight months ago.

The Ombudsman's refusal to release yet a copy of the SALN was in contravention to Duterte's promise of transparency, said PCIJ.

Panelo maintained that it would be the Office of the Ombudsman, which will release the copy of Duterte's SALN and not the Palace.

"The law requires them to file their SALN. And the repository of those records is with the Ombudsman," he said.

He denied that Duterte was hiding anything why the Office of the Ombudsman or the Office of the President has not released yet a copy of the SALN.

"If he (Duterte) is hiding anything, he would have not filed any SALN," Panelo said.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires is an appointee of Duterte. Celerina Monte/DMS