High Court forms committee to review SALNs

MANILA -- A committee has been formed by the Supreme Court to check the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of its employees and staff of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

The PET, which resolves protests in the results of the presidential and vice presidential races, is also composed of the 15 justices of the SC.

"The main task of the [committee] is to evaluate the SALN forms submitted by the employees, to determine whether it was submitted on time; accomplished completely; and in proper form…" the resolution signed by Clerk of Court Enriqueta Vidal stated.

Vidal will sit as the committee chairperson with lawyers Eden Candelaria and Caridad Pabello as members.

Before this resolution, the SC had no review and compliance committee that will evaluate the SALN forms submitted by employees as this function was performed by the Personnel Division of the Office of the Administrative Services (OAS).

The filing of SALN by government officials turned into a major concern last year after congressional allies of President Benigno Aquino successfully removed then Chief Justice Renato Corona for misdeclaring his assets while serving in the judiciary.

SALNs are filed by 1.4 million state employees and officials led by President Benigno Aquino III on or before April 30 every year. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)