Ombudsman lifts SALN access restrictions for public

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has lifted the restrictions on accessing Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of public officials, reversing a 2020 circular.

This policy shift aims to make the Ombudsman's office more accessible to the public and combat corruption and abuse of power.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano stated that transparency is key to rebuilding confidence in institutions, and the public has a legitimate right to know how government officials manage their wealth.

Under the new guidelines, the public only needs to show an ID to prove they are not a fictitious person to request SALNs, eliminating the need for prior written consent from the official.

The Ombudsman has also called on other agencies that maintain SALN records to align their own procedures with the new rules.

This move effectively ends the SALN access restriction that barred the public and media from obtaining copies of officials' disclosures without specific authorization.