House releases SALNs of 26 lawmakers to Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman has been able to obtain the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of 26 House lawmakers who are under investigation for their possible involvement in anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said on Tuesday.
“Congress has already complied with the SALNs that we have asked,” said Clavano in an ambush interview.
“The first batch that we asked for, that’s what they have complied with. That’s 26,” he added.
The identities of the 26 lawmakers in question have not been made public.
Last week, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla warned House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil to comply with his order to release the documents, or be suspended from her post and cited in contempt.
“Fair warning to the Secretary General: We will not allow them to ignore the orders of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Remulla said.
No disrespect
Remulla accused the secretary general of “avoiding” providing the SALNs that his office had requested.
“It is their duty to follow the order of the Ombudsman,” he said.
After Remulla’s remarks, Garafil said she would attend to the “official communication” from the Ombudsman’s office.
“We have no intention of showing disrespect or evading our duty to respond,” Garafil added. “All official communications will be attended to in accordance with the rules and with full respect for the institution.”
Remulla also revealed that the Office of the Ombudsman has been asking for the SALN of all lawmakers for the past 10 years, or for how long they’ve had their position.
He said his office will also issue a subpoena on the SALNs of House secretary generals and deputy secretary generals for the past 10 years.
