Acting Presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles on Tuesday, Nov. 16, hinted that President Duterte may release his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) if he wins as senator in the 2022 polls.
In his first virtual presser as Malacañang mouthpiece, Nograles raised the possibility of Duterte releasing his SALN as long as it is required in the Senate.
The Palace official said while he was not familiar with the Senate’s policies, he was sure Duterte will make his SALN public should he succeed in securing a Senate seat next year.
“I am sure the President will follow whatever protocols or practices there are in the Senate,” Nograles, who is a Cabinet secretary, said.
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“When he wins as senator of our republic, then he will follow kung ano iyong mga (whatever the) policies, procedures, and protocols of the Senate,” he added.
The President’s SALN has been a long-standing issue seeing as he hasn’t made it public since 2017, and especially amid allegations that he might have been a beneficiary of the anomalous government contracts awarded to Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the supply of substandard medical supplies.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2020 in September last year, making it within his power to deny access to the President’s SALN.
The memorandum restricted public access to SALN except for official or duly authorized representatives, for a court order in relation to a pending case, and for the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office for the purpose of conducting fact-finding investigation.
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Martires had said he was ready to be removed from office instead of yielding to the public’s request to make available the SALN of the President and other public officials.