Senator Risa Hontiveros| Photo from Senate of the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has welcomed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive ordering lifestyle checks on government officials involved in flood control projects, but urged the Chief Executive to set the example by making his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) public.
The senator’s remarks came a day after Marcos ordered lifestyle checks at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), citing long-standing corruption allegations linked to “ghost” flood control projects. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has also started monitoring contractors who conspicuously flaunt assets, while DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan created an anti-corruption task force and pledged to release his own SALN.
On Friday, August 29, Malacañang confirmed that the President is willing to undergo the same scrutiny. “The President is ready to face a lifestyle check and open to disclosing his SALN if necessary,” Palace officials said, stressing that Marcos supports transparency measures as part of his anti-corruption drive.
CONTEXT ON SALNs
Since 2020, an Ombudsman memorandum has restricted public access to officials’ SALNs, limiting disclosure to Ombudsman investigations, by court order, or with the official’s written consent. Advocates have argued that voluntary publication by the President and senior officials is crucial if the government wants to restore credibility to its transparency and anti-corruption efforts.
The credibility of Marcos’ lifestyle-check directive now rests on whether top officials, beginning with the President, will voluntarily publish their latest SALNs. Results from the DPWH anti-corruption task force and BIR contractor probes are also expected in the coming months.
