Palace has temporarily halted the release of documents requested under the Freedom of Information (FOI) system, including the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of top government officials, as it reviews its disclosure rules—rekindling concerns that transparency promises under the Marcos administration are being undercut by policy and process.
Malacañang, Manila — The release of key government documents requested under the Freedom of Information (FOI) system, including the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of top officials, has been temporarily put on hold by Malacañang as it undertakes a review of its disclosure process—raising renewed concerns over transparency under the Marcos administration.
In a letter dated Tuesday, January 6, the Malacañang Records Office confirmed that it is withholding the release of FOI-requested documents upon the advice of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (ODESLA). The move affects, among others, SALNs sought by media organizations and the public.
“In order to ensure consistency with the forthcoming updated guidelines, the ODESLA has advised that the release of FOI-requested documents — including the SALNs — be withheld pending the completion of the said review,” the Records Office said in its response to Rappler.
The letter was sent in reply to a request filed by a reporter seeking the SALNs of several Cabinet-level officials. According to the Palace records office, ODESLA is currently “updating and reviewing the current People’s FOI Manual,” which was last issued in 2021 during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Malacañang as SALN Custodian
Under a 2015 memorandum circular issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Malacañang serves as the custodian or repository of SALNs filed by Cabinet members, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, heads of government-owned or -controlled corporations, and other senior national executive officials.
Ordinarily, these officials are required under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees to file their SALNs with the CSC. However, the 2015 circular designated Malacañang as the repository agency for high-ranking executive officials, effectively placing the Palace at the center of decisions regarding public access to these documents.
This arrangement has drawn scrutiny, particularly as SALNs are considered one of the most important tools for ensuring accountability and detecting unexplained wealth among public officials.
Transparency Promises Meet Policy Limits
The withholding of SALNs comes despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s repeated pledges to promote transparency and openness in government. Critics argue that the current policy framework continues to impose significant limitations—especially when it comes to documents held by Malacañang itself.
President Marcos Jr.’s own SALN has been made public, but only because it is under the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman, led by Jesus Crispin Remulla, reversed a Duterte-era policy that had restricted the release of SALNs in its possession—a move that transparency advocates welcomed.
However, that policy reversal applies only to SALNs under the Ombudsman’s custody, leaving those held by Malacañang, Congress, and the judiciary subject to separate—and often restrictive—rules.
Uneven Disclosure Across Government
Elsewhere in government, access to SALNs remains inconsistent. The release of lawmakers’ SALNs is voluntary, as each chamber of Congress acts as the custodian of its members’ documents. While all senators have chosen to disclose their SALNs, compliance in the House of Representatives has been uneven.
Some House members have voluntarily released their SALNs, but those of key figures—such as former House Speaker Martin Romualdez—remain unavailable to the public. In the judiciary, SALNs are under the custody of the Supreme Court, which maintains its own policies on disclosure.
Expanded FOI Exemptions
Concerns over shrinking access to information were further fueled in 2023 when President Marcos signed Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 15 (MC 15), which expanded the list of FOI exemptions. Media organizations, including Rappler, have reported repeated denials of FOI requests by executive agencies citing the memorandum.
Among the most frequently invoked provisions are Section 9(g), which exempts information related to “comments and disclosures on pending cases in judicial proceedings,” and Section 3, which excludes information concerning “law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety.”
These exemptions have been used to deny access to a range of records of public interest, including documents related to investigations into the government’s deadly drug war and details on state expenditures for maintaining seized assets linked to alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family.
Calls for Accountability
Transparency advocates warn that the temporary withholding of FOI documents—especially SALNs—could further weaken public trust in government institutions if not resolved swiftly and clearly.
While Malacañang has framed the move as a procedural pause pending updated guidelines, critics argue that the lack of a definite timeline for the review raises questions about whether the freeze could effectively become a prolonged barrier to public access.
As the Palace revises its FOI manual, watchdogs and journalists alike are closely watching whether the updated rules will expand—or further restrict—the public’s right to know, a cornerstone of democratic accountability.
Ombudsman Remulla Lifts SALN Restrictions, Reopens Public Access to Officials’ Wealth Declarations
In a decisive move signaling a shift toward greater transparency and accountability in government, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has officially lifted longstanding restrictions on public access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), reversing a controversial policy that limited scrutiny of public officials’ wealth.
Remulla formalized the change on Tuesday, October 14, through his first memorandum circular as the country’s newly appointed Ombudsman. The circular overturned an order issued by his predecessor, Samuel Martires, which had sharply curtailed access to SALNs under the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and drawn criticism from civil society groups, journalists, and transparency advocates.
“This decision is guided by a simple principle: the public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement. “Transparency in this area is not a slogan — it is a safeguard against corruption and a deterrent to abuse of power.”
The policy reversal comes days after Remulla announced that his office would once again allow public access to SALNs, subject to clear and uniform guidelines. These rules, contained in the newly issued memorandum circular, outline the process by which citizens, media organizations, and watchdog groups may request copies of SALNs from the Ombudsman’s office.
By institutionalizing access procedures, the Ombudsman said the new policy seeks to balance the public’s right to information with reasonable safeguards, while rejecting what critics previously described as overly restrictive and discouraging requirements.
Lifestyle Checks to Resume
Alongside the restoration of SALN access, Remulla also ordered the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office to resume the conduct of lifestyle checks—an investigative tool used to determine whether a public official’s assets are disproportionate to their lawful income.
The move underscores the Ombudsman’s intent to actively enforce accountability mechanisms, rather than merely make information available on paper. Lifestyle checks have historically played a key role in exposing unexplained wealth and strengthening cases involving graft and corruption.
SALNs summarize the assets, liabilities, business interests, and financial connections of government officials and employees, making them a cornerstone of the country’s anti-corruption framework. These documents allow the public and oversight bodies to track changes in an official’s wealth over time and flag potential red flags.
The filing of SALNs is mandated under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which enshrines transparency and accountability as basic duties of public service.
Transparency advocates welcomed Remulla’s decision as a critical step toward restoring public trust in accountability institutions, particularly after years of controversy surrounding access to SALNs.
By reopening these records to public scrutiny and reviving lifestyle checks, the Ombudsman’s office positions itself once again as an active guardian against corruption—sending a clear signal that wealth accumulated in public office must withstand public examination.
As Remulla begins his term, observers say the true test will lie in consistent implementation, but his first official act has already set a tone that transparency is not optional, but fundamental to democratic governance.
Ombudsman Opens SALNs to Public Inspection Under New Rules, Easing Access While Setting Clear Safeguards
In a major departure from his predecessor’s restrictive policy, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has formally opened Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) to public inspection and reproduction, marking a significant expansion of citizens’ access to one of the government’s most critical accountability tools.
Under the new memorandum circular, SALNs filed with the Office of the Ombudsman may now be accessed by the public once they have been processed and officially recorded—an approach that sharply contrasts with the previous order of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, which limited access largely to the declarant or a duly authorized representative.
“The SALNs filed with this Office shall be made available to the public for inspection and reproduction after they have been processed and recorded into the official repository,” the memorandum states. “But in no case shall they be available earlier than ten (10) working days after the final submission deadline from all government agencies.”
The provision establishes a clear waiting period while affirming public access as the general rule, reinforcing the Ombudsman’s stated commitment to transparency.
Privacy Protections in Place
While widening access, Remulla’s rules also retain safeguards to address legitimate privacy and security concerns. Consistent with pronouncements he made even before assuming office, certain sensitive details will be redacted from SALNs prior to release.
These include the complete address of the declarant; the names, dates of birth, and ages of unmarried children below 18 years old living under the declarant’s care; signatures; and government-issued identification numbers of both the declarant and any co-declarant.
The Ombudsman’s office said these redactions are meant to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the personal safety of public officials and their families.
The new memorandum also clearly enumerates the circumstances under which requests for SALNs may be denied, providing a defined framework that replaces the broad discretion previously criticized by transparency advocates.
Requests may be rejected if the Ombudsman is not the official repository of the requested SALN; if the document is not on file; or if the request is intended for an unauthorized commercial purpose. Access may likewise be denied if the requesting party has a record of misuse, if the request is linked to a pending case aimed at influencing proceedings or harassing individuals, or if there is evidence of extortion or threats to personal safety.
Other grounds for denial include the use of a fictitious identity by the requesting party or a purpose deemed contrary to law, morals, or public policy.
In another notable provision, the Ombudsman’s rules require any requesting party who publishes or broadcasts SALNs to submit a copy of their report to the constitutional body. The requirement, the Ombudsman’s office said, is intended to promote responsible use of the information and to help monitor compliance with the conditions of access.
Taken together, the new rules mark a clear shift in policy—from tightly controlled access to conditional openness—at a time when public scrutiny of government transparency remains intense. By allowing inspection and reproduction of SALNs while spelling out redactions and denial grounds, Remulla’s memorandum seeks to institutionalize access rather than treat it as an exception.
For advocates of open government, the changes signal a renewed emphasis on accountability. For public officials, they underscore a familiar principle of public service: that wealth accumulated in office is subject to public scrutiny, tempered by reasonable protections grounded in law and public interest.