Malacañang said Cabinet members will meet this weekend to discuss whether to release their statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs), amid renewed public calls for transparency in government.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the matter will be tackled during the Cabinet meeting on Saturday.
“Pag-uusapan po ito ng Cabinet members bukas po. Magkakaroon po ‘ata sila ng pagpupulong (This will be discussed by the Cabinet members tomorrow. They will probably have a meeting),” Castro said Friday.
Castro said she was not part of the meeting and could not confirm what safeguards or procedures may be taken up.
“Hindi ko masasabi kung good as yes kasi sila pa ay magmi-meeting, at sila po ang magdedesisyon dito (I can’t say it’s good as a yes since they are going to have a meeting, and they will be the ones to decide here),” she said, adding that updates could be available by Monday.
The discussion follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier statement that his administration is ready to disclose SALNs of his cabinet members.
Asked whether the President would personally release his SALN, Castro said the Palace would first determine “what is right to do.”
Castro also noted that while she has yet to see the full agenda, the issue of voluntary disclosure by Cabinet officials is expected to be part of the discussions.
During the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang made the SALNs of Cabinet officials public in line with its transparency and good governance initiatives.
The SALN is a constitutional requirement intended to promote accountability among public officials by declaring their assets, liabilities, and business interests.
