MANILA – Speaker Faustino Dy III said that the House of Representatives will review its rules on the public disclosure of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of its members to promote transparency and accountability.

Dy said he is willing to share his own SALN with the public to set an example.

“Kung kinakailangan, siyempre, lead by example tayo (of course, if necessary, we lead by example),” Dy said in a radio interview on DWLA TrueFM.

He said House members are generally open to the idea and will discuss formal procedures during the congressional break to establish clear guidelines on the disclosure of their SALNs.

“Actually, hindi naman formal na napag-uusapan pero ‘yung usap-usapan ng mga miyembro ng House, willing naman sila (Actually, we haven’t discussed it formally but House members are talking, they are willing),” he said.

Dy’s statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a memorandum reopening public access to SALNs. The new directive allows the public to obtain copies of SALNs—with sensitive personal data redacted—within 10 working days after filing.

The new policy removes the requirement for consent from public officers whose SALNs are being requested. Requesting parties now only need to present valid identification and prove that they are not fictitious persons. The policy applies to the SALNs of the President, Vice President, heads of constitutional offices, and local government officials, for which the Ombudsman serves as the official repository.

Remulla said he would request copies of SALNs from both the Senate and the House, noting that all government officials and employees should file their SALNs with the Office of the Ombudsman.

His memorandum reverses the 2020 policy of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which required the consent of SALN owners before disclosure—a rule that had made SALNs largely inaccessible to the public.

Dy said Congress should revert to the previous practice of allowing public access to lawmakers’ SALNs.

“Noong panahon natin, open naman para makita ng publiko ‘yung ating SALN (During our time, our SALNs are open for the public to see),” he said.

Makabayan bloc welcomes policy change

Opposition lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc welcomed the Ombudsman’s move, saying the restoration of public access to SALNs is crucial in curbing corruption.

“This is a step forward for transparency and accountability. For years, we have been calling for the restoration of public access to SALNs. Ang SALN ay hindi pribadong dokumento—ito ay pampublikong rekord na dapat accessible sa lahat ng mamamayan,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

He said the previous policy under Martires “was a deliberate attempt to shield corrupt officials from public scrutiny.”

“By requiring consent from the very officials whose wealth we wanted to examine, they essentially made SALNs secret documents. This was a betrayal of the Constitution and of the people’s right to information,” Tinio added.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co said the policy shift is significant for young Filipinos and civil society groups advocating for transparency.

“For years, students, youth groups, and civil society have been demanding access to SALNs as part of our fight against corruption. This policy change validates our struggle and recognizes that transparency is not a privilege granted by officials—it is a right of the people,” Co said.

She said transparency must translate into accountability.

“When officials hide their wealth, they hide their corruption,” Co said. “This policy change is a crucial tool in our fight for good governance.”

“Ang SALN ay sandata ng mamamayan laban sa korapsyon (The SALN is a weapon of the people against corruption). With this policy change, we now have a more powerful tool to hold officials accountable. But access is just the first step—we must use this information to demand investigations, prosecutions, and justice,” she added.

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago said access to SALNs should be matched with efforts to prosecute corrupt officials.

“Access to SALNs is meaningless if there is no political will to go after corrupt officials. We welcome this policy change, but we challenge the Ombudsman and all relevant agencies to use these documents to investigate and prosecute those who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Filipino people,” Elago said.

“Maraming tanong ang kailangang sagutin: Paano naging bilyonaryo ang mga opisyal na ang sweldo ay limitado? Saan galing ang mga mansyon, luxury cars, at offshore accounts? (So many questions need to be answered: How did these officials become billionaires with only limited salaries? Where did their mansions, luxury cars, and offshore accounts come from?) The SALN is the starting point of these investigations,” she said. (PNA)