A political analyst has urged House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to “lead by example” and make his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth accessible to the public.Institute for Political and Electoral Reform Executive Director Ramon Casiple made the call after SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor filed a resolution that seeks to compel government officials and employees to make their SALN accessible to the public.
Marcoleta and Defensor contended that a congressional inquiry on existing SALN laws is needed to protect public’s right to information in line with the government’s pledge for transparency. “The concept of SALN being accessible to the public means that all government officials must be accountable to the people” said Casiple, adding that “the issue of making SALN public should no longer be up for debate in House inquiry.”
Elected officials as well as those in government agencies and employees are mandated to submit their SALN every year. However, SALN records, including those in the House of Representatives, are kept in highly secured vaults and keenly watched over by security cameras.