Six business groups are calling for mandatory lifestyle checks to enforce Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) accountability by government officials.
The groups—the Justice Reform Initiative (JRI), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines (SHAREPHIL)—issued a joint statement Thursday calling for truthful and public submission of SALNs by all government officials, and mandatory lifestyle checks to validate these disclosures.
“Without rigorous verification, SALNs remain symbolic records rather than effective tools against corruption,” they said.
The groups argued that lifestyle audits are much easier to conduct now with accessible digital footprints that show spending patterns, travel, social media activity, and ownership of luxury assets of public officials and their family members.
“They are essential to uncover if declared wealth aligns with actual living standards,” they said.
The groups noted that the Constitution (Article XI, Section 17) mandates every public official, both elected and appointed, to submit a sworn SALN upon assuming office. High-ranking officials must even make a full public disclosure. Republic Act No. 6713 further extends SALN requirements to spouses and minor children living in the same household and mandates annual updates, they said.
The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act imposes penalties, including disqualification and imprisonment, while the Plunder Law punishes with lifetime imprisonment those who amass ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million, which is a low benchmark.
“While the recent Ombudsman decision restoring public access to SALNs is welcome, transparency alone is insufficient. Under Republic Act 1379, as confirmed by a recent Supreme Court decision, any property ‘manifestly out of proportion’ to an official’s lawful income is presumed ill-gotten and subject to forfeiture,” the groups said.
“Lifestyle audits enable this legal presumption. Discrepancies uncovered through these checks must trigger immediate, impartial investigations and prosecutions under the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate,” they said.
The groups called on the public to remain vigilant and report signs of excessive or unexplained wealth among officials.
“The corruption we now see, we cannot unsee. We can no longer allow pilferage to prosper under the cover of pretense, political patronage, and public indifference,” they said.
