MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo is in favor of requiring public officials to disclose their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and subject them to lifestyle checks if she is elected president.
“Why do we have a law regarding the disclosure of SALN? Because as public officials, we have an obligation to be transparent not only in our work but also in our public life,” Robredo said in an interview with dzBB’s “Ikaw na Ba? The Presidential Interview” yesterday.
“And one more thing, the lifestyle checks must also be done in conjunction with the SALN, because the SALN may not have reflected the wealth status of a public official, but the SALN’s publication is an important first step,” she said in Filipino.
Presidential aspirant former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he does not plan to release his SALN to the public if he is elected to the country’s top post.
Marcos, son and namesake of the late former president, argued the document can be weaponized by political rivals, citing the case of former Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona, who was impeached due to discrepancies between his bank accounts and SALN.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires earlier imposed restrictions on public access to government officials’ SALN, including that of the President.
The last time President Duterte made public his SALN was in 2018.
‘Patrol West Phl Sea’
Meanwhile, vice presidential aspirant and Sen. Francis Pangilinan reminded the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to protect, secure and support Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea.
“How far does the PCG go in patrolling our waters and securing Filipino fishermen?” asked Pangilinan as fishermen told him that the PCG does not go beyond 12 nautical miles in roving the West Philippine Sea.
“Is this a policy or limitation? We want to know whether this is a policy of the PCG or a limitation on its part to cover only this far in our exclusive economic zone,” Pangilinan said.
He added that it is the duty of the Coast Guard to protect the country’s exclusive property and provide security to Filipino fishermen.
“How will they do it if they say they can’t go beyond 10 nautical miles? I think our fishermen have come farther than PCG ships,” he said.
Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, which China has occupied since 2012, is about 120 nautical miles away from some parts of Zambales. The international arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s claim to it and the rest of the West Philippine Sea is unfounded and invalid.
Pangilinan called on the PCG and the Navy to live up to their duty to secure the EEZ and ensure protection for Filipino fishers.
Pangilinan went to sea with fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales on Saturday and listened to narration of their hardships in making a living, including the constant threat of harassment from Chinese vessels.
He called for greater protection for Filipino fishermen, livelihood assistance and aid in facilities such as cold storage to preserve their catch. – Cecille Suerte Felipe