Prove that you're different from your predecessor when it comes to corruption.

This was Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima's challenge of sorts to President Marcos over the weekend after she learned about Malacañang’s reservations about disclosing the statement of asseta, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) of the President and his Cabinet.

Tutal sinama na rin naman ng administrasyong ito ang isinusulong natin na (Anyway, since this administration has already included the) Freedom of Information (FOI) Act as one of its priority measures this 20th Congress, the President should demonstrate his sincerity and commitment to transparency and accountability by disclosing his SALN and encouraging his Cabinet to do the same.

Patunayan niyang iba siya sa sinundan niya na galit sa korupsyon kuno pero isinikreto lang ang SALN kasama ng protektor nyang Ombudsman. Hindi pwedeng hanggang salita lang ang paglaban sa korupsyon, yung biglang kambyo at ang dami pang kuskos-balungos sa simpleng paglalabas ng SALN.

(He should prove that he is different from his predecessor who claimed to be angry at corruption but kept his SALN secret along with his protector, the Ombudsman. The fight against corruption can't just be words—there can't be sudden reversals and all sorts of excuses over something as simple as releasing the SALN.)

President Marcos' predecessor was former president and current Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whom De Lima didn't mention by name.

The call for public officials to release their SALNs was part of the response to public outrage over the massive corruption involving government flood control projects.

"With corruption of this magnitude, and for the public to believe that this administration is true to its word in holding those involved accountable, the President must pursue an all-out war against corruption," De Lima said.

"All-out means no cover-ups, no sacred cows, and no stone left unturned. And the administration should not exempt itself from scrutiny," she further said.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla recently lifted the restrictions of his predecessor Samuel Martires, who required the consent of SALN owners before the document could be made public.

In the House of Representatives, Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III responded by voluntarily releasing his SALN, on top of re-forming the SALN Review and Compliance Committee.

"The Committee will continue to perform its mandate as contained in House Memorandum Order No. 17-42 (SPK) dated December 20, 2016, and in the Rules of Procedure in the Filing, Review, and Disclosure of, and Access to, the SALNs of Members, Officials, and Employees of the House of Representatives under Resolution No. 176 adopted on January 30, 2019," Dy said.