Educational institutions under the De La Salle Philippines hit Ombudsman Samuel Martires after denying the public access to President Duterte's statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), underscoring that the public's right information should be "respected, protected, and generally remain unbridled."

Martires recently drew flak after pushing for jail time of five years for anyone who "makes a comment" on the SALN of government personnel. Since 2019, various groups and media organizations have been working to access the SALN of Duterte from 2018 onward.

In a statement, De La Salle institutions said the statements of the Ombudsman and the President "manifest their betrayal of their own sworn duty to preserve and defend the Constitution."

"We are aghast at the insults and intimidation that the President has hurdled against members of a co-equal branch who are investigating an allegedly corruption-riddled transaction," its statement read.

"The President has unjustly railed against an independent constitutional body that is required to assess the efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of all national and local government agencies."

They also urged Congress to continue investigating all transactions of the Executive branch and called on the youth to "stand as one in upholding the truth and to keep the passion in seeking it for social justice, human dignity, and the respect for democratic rights."

"We underscore the pursuit of truth, which demands transparency and accountability in public service. We believe that our right to information should be respected, protected, and generally remain unbridled. If we are to breathe life back to our de-democratizing polity, we must re-enliven the public's trust in our institutions, and such can only happen if the government remains open and transparent."