MANILA — Malacañang clarified that it will not intervene in the release of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), stressing that the decision rests solely with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the President will allow the proper agencies to handle the matter after several civic groups formally requested that his latest SALN be made public.
“Hintayin na lang po nila. Hindi naman po pipigilan ng Pangulo iyan. Hintayin po nila kung ano po ang magiging tugon ng Ombudsman,” Castro told reporters during a Palace briefing.
The statement came after Akbayan, Tindig Pilipinas, and other civil society organizations petitioned Ombudsman Crispin Remulla to release Marcos’ SALN in the name of “greater transparency and accountability” among government leaders.
Under existing rules, only the Ombudsman has the authority to grant access to SALNs of high-ranking officials, including the President.
While Malacañang confirmed that Marcos has submitted his SALN as required, it has not released any copies to the public since he assumed office in 2022.
The renewed clamor for disclosure coincides with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s decision to reverse his predecessor’s restrictive policy and reopen public access to the SALNs of government officials — a move that transparency advocates see as a key step toward restoring public trust./PN
