Cebu's legal minds agree: Judges' SALN should be divulged

CEBU, Philippines - Former Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Mienrado Paredes is questioning the exemption of judges in the disclosure of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities Net Worth (SALN).

“If you will disclose the truth in your SALN…all your assets and liabilities, then why will you be afraid that it will be used against you?” Paredes said.

Paredes said he has nothing against disclosing the judges’ SALN.

“Okay lang. Ang mga prosecutors gani girequire to disclose their SALN,” he said.

However, Paredes respects the views and opinions of other judges saying it was the directive of former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa not to disclose the SALN of the judiciary which until now, was not revoked.

The president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City Chapter Earl Bonachita said the SALN must be made available upon request and that no one should be above the law.

“What the clerk of court did was valid as he was directed by the Senate to release the SALN of Corona,” Bonachita said.

Bonachita pointed out that so far, the proceedings are conducted in a fair manner which was what they requested in their resolution.

He added that the Supreme Court has no right to intervene as it was clear in the constitution that the senate has the sole jurisdiction of the trial.

Justice Gabriel Ingles of the Court of Appeals (CA) said that he authorized in writing, the office custodian of the CA-Cebu to release to the media and any interested party, his SALN, in the spirit of transparency in full public disclosure.

Former IBP Cebu City Chapter President Michael Yu said that he is in favor of the disclosure of SALN for all members of the judiciary.

“The role of the judiciary is the final arbiter of disputes in the community. In order to erase suspicion of bias or impropriety, disclosure of SALN will help the people bestow faith in the judicial system,” he said.

Yu said the reason that disclosing the judges’ SALN will cause possible pressure to sway decisions is baseless because if judges and justices are truthful, there is nothing to fear. — (FREEMAN)