The Manila Times
THE House of Representatives said it respects the Office of the Ombudsman’s mandate, noting it would process its request for Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of its members and other officials in accordance with its rules, House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil said. Garafil’s reply came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a subpoena to the House Secretariat to release SALNs of lawmakers and other Congress officials, notably that of former deputy secretary-general Sofonias Gabonada. Gabonada, according to Remulla, is part of the investigations made by the office in connection with plunder charges being prepared in relation to the 2025 budget. In a statement late Monday night, Garafil said that they have “huge respect” for the Office of the Ombudsman and its mandate, but stressed that the communications sent to the House are being processed according to its standing rules. “Currently, onsite work at the House is limited to Tuesdays and Wednesdays as part of work-from-home arrangements due to energy-saving measures,” Garafil said. She added that the House has no intention of disrespecting or not answering the office, but said that official communications will be processed in accordance with the rules and respect for the institution. Meanwhile, Remulla issued a subpoena duces tecum to Garafil on Tuesday to formally request the SALN of Gabonada covering the period from the commencement of his service in the House of Representatives until the present. In a letter received by the secretary-general’s office on April 7, Remulla said he is seeking Gabonada’s SALNs “to assess whether there has been any undeclared accumulation of wealth or financial anomalies that may indicate misconduct.” Besides Gabonada’s SALN, Remulla is also enjoining the office to submit a certification under oath if the document is not available, explaining the reasons clearly. On Monday, Remulla said plunder cases are being prepared by the Ombudsman against Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Sen. Francis Escudero for their involvement in the creation of the 2025 budget, which he said was “flood control-related.”
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