Court execs, lawyers: Do it to ensure transparency

Friday, January 20, 2012

PUBLIC disclosure of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth SALNs) of court officers and employees will promote transparency in the judiciary.

This was stressed by some members of the judiciary and officers of the court in Cebu yesterday.

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To set an example, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles yesterday released a copy of his 2010 SALN to the media “in the spirit of transparency and full public disclosure.”

“I have authorized today (Thursday), in writing, the office custodian of CA Cebu to release to the media and any interested party my SALN,” Ingles told reporters by text message.

Ingles, who has a net worth of P4.504 million as of Dec. 31, 2010, stressed that the authority he gave to the CA Cebu clerk of court continues “as long as he is a public servant.”

The call for full public disclosure of the SALNs of court officials and employees surfaced amid the impeachment proceedings of the Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Supreme Court, in an en banc resolution on May 2, 1989, ruled that the clerk of court may release the SALN of a member of the judiciary only “upon request” and “provided there is a legitimate reason” for it. It said theSALN may not be released to requesting parties if the "person making the request and the request for information appears to be a fishing expedition intended to harass or get back at the judge.”

Ingles, in an interview, said he believes that court officials and workers are bound to make public their SALNs for transparency.

During the impeachment trial, Corona’s defense team opposed the House prosecution’s attempt to compel the Supreme Court to release copies of the chief magistrate’s SALN.

But the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, was able to compel Supreme Court clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal to release copies of Corona’s SALN.

Judge Meinrado Paredes said a magistrate should only worry if he did not disclose the truth in his SALN.

Paredes, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13, said the Constitution requires the full disclosure of SALNs of public officials and employees.

Paredes said the SC resolution needs to be revoked and that members of the judiciary should set an “example” for other public servants to follow.

Earl Bonachita of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter agreed.

He said the disclosure would be in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Emlpoyees.

“However, it (SALN) should not be used for any purpose that is contrary to morals or public policy. Compliance with the law will give meaning to the constitutional provision on accountability of public officials,” he said.

Lawyer Michael Yu, former IBP Cebu City chapter president, is also in favor of releasing the SALN of court workers and employees.

He said disclosing the SALN would “bestow faith” in the judicial system.