Long overdue.

That's how the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives described newly-installed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla's lifting of the restrictions on public access to the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of public officials.

The militant faction composed of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co, and Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago says the move is "much needed now, especially as questions of wealth and corruption continue to plague the government".

The memorandum issued by Remulla reverses the restrictive 2020 policy of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which had essentially made SALNs inaccessible to the public by requiring the consent of SALN owners—a requirement that defeated the very purpose of transparency.

"This is a step forward for transparency and accountability. For years, we have been calling for the restoration of public access to SALNs. Ang SALN ay hindi pribadong dokumento—ito ay pampublikong rekord na dapat accessible sa lahat ng mamamayan (The SALN isn't a private document--it is a public record that must be accessible to all citizens)," Tinio said in a joint statement Wednesday, Oct. 15.

"The Martires policy was a deliberate attempt to shield corrupt officials from public scrutiny. By requiring consent from the very officials whose wealth we wanted to examine, they essentially made SALNs secret documents. This was a betrayal of the Constitution and of the people's right to information," he added.

Co emphasized the significance of this policy change for young Filipinos and civil society organizations that have been at the forefront of demanding transparency.

"For years, students, youth groups, and civil society have been demanding access to SALNs as part of our fight against corruption. This policy change validates our struggle and recognizes that transparency is not a privilege granted by officials—it is a right of the people," Co said.

"When officials hide their wealth, they hide their corruption. This policy change is a crucial tool in our fight for good governance," she added.

Elago, for her part, stressed that the lifting of restrictions must be accompanied by genuine commitment to prosecute corrupt officials.

"Access to SALNs is meaningless if there is no political will to go after corrupt officials. We welcome this policy change, but we challenge the Ombudsman and all relevant agencies to use these documents to investigate and prosecute those who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Filipino people," she said.

"Maraming tanong ang kailangang sagutin: Paano naging bilyonaryo ang mga opisyal na ang sweldo ay limitado? Saan galing ang mga mansyon, luxury cars, at offshore accounts? (A lot of questions need to be answered. How did these officials become billionaires if their salaries are limited? Where did the mansions, luxury cars, and offshore accounts come from?) The SALN is the starting point of these investigations," she emphasized.

The new policy removes the requirement for consent from public officers whose SALNs are being requested. Requesting parties now only need to present identification and prove they are not fictitious persons.

The policy covers SALNs of the President, Vice President, heads of Constitutional Offices, and local government officials—positions for which the Ombudsman is the official repository.

"The simplicity of the new requirements is as it should be. Transparency should not be complicated. If you are a public official, your SALN should be available to any citizen who wants to see it. Tinio stated.

The Makabayan bloc said it has consistently advocated for SALN transparency as a fundamental tool against corruption. It has filed numerous resolutions and bills calling for the restoration of public access to SALNs and have criticized the Martires-era restrictions as unconstitutional and anti-people.

"This policy change is particularly timely given the numerous corruption scandals that have rocked this administration—from the confidential funds controversy to the flood control project anomalies. The public deserves to know if their officials are living beyond their means," Co said.