In a joint statement, business groups in the Philippines pushed for mandatory lifestyle checks on public officials to strengthen accountability and make more effective use of the statement of assets, liability, and net worth (SALN) as a tool for combating corruption, saying that the Office of the Ombudsman restoring public access to the document is unfortunately not enough.
“We call for truthful and public submission of SALNs by all government officials and mandatory lifestyle checks to validate these disclosures. Without rigorous verification, SALNs remain symbolic records rather than effective tools against corruption,” said the groups, composed of the Justice Reform Initiative, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, and the Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines.
They said it is not easier to conduct lifestyle audits as spending patterns, travel, social media activity, and ownership of luxury assets of public officials and their family members can be tracked through their digital footprint.
“They are essential to uncover if declared wealth aligns with actual living standards,” the group said.
Last month, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla lifted restrictions on public access to SALNs, reversing a memorandum issued by his predecessor, Samuel Martires. The move was aimed at promoting transparency and preventing corruption and abuse of power.
Citing RA 1379 or the Forfeiture Law, as confirmed by a recent Supreme Court decision, the business groups said that any property “manifestly out of proportion” to an official’s lawful income is presumed ill-gotten and subject to forfeiture. They said the conduct of lifestyle audits enables this legal presumption.
They also said any discrepancies uncovered through these audits must immediately lead to impartial investigations and prosecutions under the ombudsman’s constitutional mandate.
Aside from lifestyle checks, they also called on the public to remain vigilant and report signs of excessive or unexplained wealth among public officials.
Under an Ombudsman who would rather make SALNs as inaccessible to the public as possible, public officials in the Philippines have enjoyed the lack of accountability for far too long. Now that the spotlight has fortunately turned back to the scourge of corruption in this country, it is time to make them accountable for what they put in their SALNs and the lives that they lead. As SALNs have been made public, lifestyle checks should automatically follow, especially for those that have been seen flaunting their wealth. Those who cannot explain how are able to afford their lifestyles should then be ready to face serious investigations that hopefully weeds out and exposes the corruption that makes our government an embarrassment for Filipinos.*
