House creates committee to study release of SALNs

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will not order the automatic release of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of all 285 district and partylist representatives.

Instead, he issued Special Order No 05-12 creating a committee that will establish review and compliance procedures relating to the SALNs of members and staff of the House of Representatives.

Belmonte assigned Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado to chair the committee. The other members are Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, Batangas Rep. Tomas Apacible, Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, and Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Committee’s functions

The committee has 3 functions:

1. Determine whether the SALNs that the House members submitted are on time and complete. If not, it will direct the members to correct their SALNs.
2. “To render opinion interpreting the above Act (R.A. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees ), in writing, to persons, subject in each instance to the approval by an affirmative vote of the majority of the House of Representatives”
3. To formulate such Rules and Procedures for public access to copies of SALNs of members, officials, employees, and staff of the House of Representatives, subject to the approval of the House of Representatives.

Individual requests

Belmonte earlier said the committee is supposed to submit its report when Congress resumes session in July. Meanwhile, Belmonte said requests for SALNs should be addressed to the individual solons.

The solons are under pressure to release their SALNs after the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The House of Representatives impeached Corona in December 2011 for, among others, failing to accurately declares his assets in his SALN.

The House prosecution panel vowed they will release their SALNs after the trial, but so far only a few of them actually have.

The members of the House prosecution team who released their SALNs are Akbayan partylist Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares, Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo.

Belmonte himself vowed to release his SALN, but he is yet to do so. – Rappler.com