My SALN is open to all—Marcos

President Marcos said he is willing to make his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) available to anyone who requests it, as part of the government’s effort to restore transparency and accountability. Marcos said this after the Office of the Ombudsman removed the restrictions on access to the said documents. Speaking to reporters, the President said his administration will follow the previous procedure that allowed easier public access to officials’ SALNs — a system that, he noted, had been suspended under the previous administration. “We will follow the old rules,” Marcos said following the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the Malacañang Media Group on Wednesday, Oct. 15. “These old rules were suspended in the last administration, where the SALN was — it was much easier to get a copy of the SALN and to examine it.” Marcos said he was surprised to learn when he assumed office that obtaining copies of public officials’ SALNs had become almost impossible. “I was quite surprised to find out when I first came into office that that was no longer the case - that it was almost impossible, in fact, to get a copy of people\'s SALN,” he said. “We’re just going back to the old procedure, and we will follow that, whatever happens,” he added. Marcos said he would make his own SALN available to anyone who formally requests it, including the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Office of the Ombudsman. “My SALN will be available to whoever would like to [see it],” he assured the public. “Kung hingiin sa akin ng ICI, siyempre ibibigay ko. Kung hingiin sa akin ng Ombudsman, ibibigay ko (If the ICI asks for it, of course I’ll give it. If the Ombudsman asks for it, I’ll give it),” he added. The President also said he would enjoin his Cabinet members to do the same under the restored rules. “Yes, of course,” he replied when asked if his Cabinet would follow suit. Earlier, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos supports any measure “that would help fight corruption” and that the Executive Department will comply with the law and whatever is deemed necessary for transparency. “Kung ano ang nararapat at kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas at kung ano ang makakabuti para malabanan ang korapsyon, tatalima naman po ang lahat na nasa Executive Department (Whatever is proper, lawful, and beneficial in fighting corruption, everyone in the Executive Department will comply with),” she said.