By Kenneth Christian L. Basilio, reporter
Speaker Faustino “Bozzi” Deputy III on Wednesday formed a House of Representatives committee aimed at reviewing the chamber's guidelines on releasing net worth statements, amid calls for greater government transparency.
In a statement, Mr Deputy said he had formed the committee to fulfill his commitment to review the House's policy on releasing statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of MPs.
The memorandum, which comes into effect immediately, directs the committee to initiate a review of the House's rules on making public the disclosure of MPs' net worth.
The panel was chaired by Deputy Speaker and Cotabato representative Ferdinand L. Hernandez, accompanied by Iloilo representative Lorenz R. Defensor and Marikina representative Romero Federico S. Quimbo will be the representative.
The speaker last week said the congressman was open to the idea of releasing his SALN after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla reversed a restrictive policy that limited public access to disclosures of the net worth of government officials since the Duterte administration.
Republic Act No. 6713, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, appoints several guardians for SALN in government branches and sectors. Lokpal is a repository of statements of the net worth of the President, Vice President and heads of constitutional offices.
The office of the President consists of the Cabinet, presidential appointees, and high-ranking military officers.
Senators and Congressmen file their SALNs with their respective chambers, while justices and judges file their SALNs with the Office of the Court Administrator and the Clerk of the Supreme Court, respectively.
Easy with FOI
The House SALN release policy should not be too complicated and surrounded by bureaucratic procedures, Hansli A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
He said, “As long as it conforms to the standards advocated for freedom of information (FOI) requests, and as long as it provides relevant information, we shouldn't complicate the process and we shouldn't involve too many politicians.”
But he said it would be easier for the House to pass FOI legislation to make it easier for government requests such as SALN releases. “They'll make more money with that law.”
Also on Wednesday, Mr. Deputy released his SALN, declaring total assets worth P74 million, which include 11 agricultural lots, two residential lots and three home properties.
His declared assets included P25.18 million in cash, investments worth P29.6 million and jewelry and other personal items worth P12 million.
Mr. Dy's SALN also listed 16 relatives in government service, including a nephew serving as the Philippine ambassador to Switzerland. His son, daughter-in-law and another nephew currently hold mayoral positions in cities and municipalities in the province of Isabela, where his family wields political influence.
Three of his relatives are also district representatives for Isabela, holding half of the lower house legislative seats allocated to the Northern Province.
