Lapid: No official has filed a truly honest SALN?

MANILA, Philippines — In an interjection rarely seen, Sen. Lito Lapid yesterday took the podium to bare what he called a reality in the filing of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth: no politician has ever submitted an honest declaration of his or her wealth in the SALN.

Lapid made the declaration at the resumption yesterday of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The proceedings focused on her allegedly unexplained wealth since 2007.

On Day 25 of the impeachment trial, Lapid asked the prosecution’s witness Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division, to explain the legal implications of misdeclaring assets and liabilities in the annual document so that the ordinary Filipino would understand.

He said ordinary people like farmers, drivers, workers and fisherfolk hardly care about the discussions on SALN because many of them are clueless about it.

“Now my question is, what’s the punishment for failure to file SALN?” Laid asked.

Batu replied that “non-filing of SALN” is a violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Without admitting the lapse, Lapid said he heard a lawyer on television say that all politicians have discrepancy in their SALNs – to which Batu said she has been honest in her filings.

“I watched a lawyer being interviewed on TV. He said, I don’t know if this is true, no politician or anyone working in government would submit true SALN,” Lapid said.

“He said it’s ‘kalokohan’ if they would really tell the truth in their SALN,” he added, eliciting laughter in the gallery.

Batu insisted she filed her true SALN, to which Lapid quipped: “Hindi joke yan, ha?”

Lapid also noted the interest sparked among his audience by his interjection. “There you are, watching me again,” Lapid said.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero said he could have all the time he wanted.

Senator-judges also learned from the prosecution witness that a public official can correct errors in their previous SALNs by putting in the corrections in subsequent SALNs based on the omnibus guidelines.

Asked if the ombudsman checked the “correctness of the contents,” the witness said her office is limited to receiving the documents as the “repository” and ensuring compliance with the annual submissions.