Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announcing his candidacy to run for president in 2022. (SCREENSHOT | BONGBONG MARCOS FB PAGE)
Former senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can’t find reasons as to why statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) should be released in public if it would only be used against government officials.
Marcos said during an interview on the YouTube channel Luminous that a SALN may be provided when cases are filed “but maybe not to the public but certainly to the agents of the court or the court itself.”
“I think that might be a workable partial solution because lahat ng pulitiko may kalaban. Makakahanap, gagawan yan ng isyu kahit walang isyu. My prime example is Corona,” Marcos said referring to the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Corona was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 12, 2011 and found guilty by the Senate on May 29, 2012 for failure to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth to the public. Marcos, along with the late senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Joker Arroyo, voted to acquit Corona.
When asked if he is going to release his SALN when he’s already president and ask the Ombudsman to recall its order banning the release of SALNs of public officials, Marcos responded “If the purpose is going to be political attack, then why do we want to do that?”.
“So if that’s going to be the purpose for some political agenda, then I don’t see why the SALN should be given?” Marcos said.
However, his fellow presidential contenders, Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senators Manny Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson all, agreed during the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews that the SALNs of government officials should be released to the public.
Marcos declined the invitation to participate in the said program, saying that GMA is biased against him.
Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states that public officials and employees “have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.” Ronald Espartinez