President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their sons in an undated family photo. Malacañang said the First Family is open to a lifestyle check under existing oversight procedures. (Photo courtesy of the Marcos family)
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in recent interviews that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos are prepared to undergo a lifestyle review conducted by the appropriate oversight bodies. Castro said any process would follow the established procedures of the Office of the Ombudsman and other agencies responsible for integrity assessments.
Lifestyle checks are administrative reviews that compare an official’s declared income and assets with observable spending patterns, property acquisitions and financial behavior. Oversight institutions may initiate such reviews on their own or in response to a verified complaint.
Reported details from the President’s SALN
Public reports on President Marcos’ 2024 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth indicate that the President declared a net worth of about ₱389 million. This figure appears in the standard SALN form required under Republic Act 6713 and Civil Service Commission rules.
Several media organizations also reported that the SALN included an appraisal document prepared by a private valuation firm. These reports stated that the appraisal estimated the value of the President’s and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ combined assets at approximately ₱1.375 billion when computed using fair-market valuation methods. The submission of appraisal reports is voluntary and is not required under the law.
Based on these same reports, the SALN lists declared real properties, personal assets, vehicles, liabilities and business interests, consistent with the disclosure categories required by RA 6713. The Office of the Ombudsman is the official custodian of SALNs filed by the President and other top officials. Access to these records is governed by Ombudsman regulations and statutory rules.
Governance groups routinely examine SALNs to assess year-to-year consistency and changes in declared wealth. Legal analysts emphasize that a SALN is a disclosure document and not evidence of wrongdoing. Any allegation concerning its accuracy must be reviewed through formal fact-finding and due process before any administrative or criminal action can be taken.
Scrutiny after release of wealth disclosures
The Palace statement was issued amid renewed public interest in the declared wealth of senior officials. Vice President Sara Duterte also filed her 2024 SALN, and news reports noted her declared net worth based on the information she submitted. SALNs are intended to promote transparency and to help identify possible conflicts of interest as mandated by RA 6713.
Civil society organizations and policy centers analyze these filings to evaluate trends in officials’ declared financial positions. Analysts repeatedly note that increases in reported assets can result from many legitimate sources, including income, property valuation changes, inheritance or lawful business activity.
What a lifestyle check examines
A lifestyle check assesses whether an official’s standard of living is aligned with declared lawful income and legitimate interests. Investigators may review property holdings, vehicles, travel activity and other indicators of spending. They then compare these findings with information reported in the SALN and other financial disclosures.
A lifestyle check does not determine guilt. Any potential inconsistency must be supported by evidence and may only proceed to an administrative or criminal investigation under laws such as Republic Act 3019 after due process is observed.
Several governance advocates have encouraged the government to apply lifestyle checks more consistently for senior officials who manage or influence major public expenditures, procurement processes or infrastructure projects.
Transparency debate expands
The renewed focus on lifestyle audits comes as public discussion continues over access to SALNs. Republic Act 6713 provides for the availability of SALNs for public inspection within a regulated period. Transparency groups say that effective access to these documents, combined with credible lifestyle assessments, can strengthen public confidence in the government’s commitment to accountability.
Whether the Marcos family or other high-ranking officials will undergo a lifestyle review depends on the discretion of the Ombudsman or other authorized bodies. At present, the SALNs of the President and the Vice President remain official declarations filed under existing disclosure laws. These documents do not constitute findings of wrongdoing.
The Palace statement that the First Family is open to scrutiny has given new momentum to the national conversation on financial integrity. The actions of oversight institutions in the coming months will help determine whether lifestyle checks become a more consistent component of integrity enforcement for the country’s highest officials.
