Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno expressed strong support on Monday, April 20, for the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to scrutinize the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and conduct lifestyle checks on 26 lawmakers allegedly linked to anomalous flood control projects.
The investigation, ordered by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, seeks to uncover irregularities in disaster mitigation programs amid reports of massive corruption.
Diokno underscored transparency as the only way to restore public trust in Congress.
“Suportado natin ang hakbang na ito. Sa gitna ng flood control anomalies, kailangang maibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa Kongreso,” he said.
He noted that the Akbayan Reform Bloc has long practiced financial openness, having made their own SALNs public last year to set a standard for accountability.
Beyond endorsing the Ombudsman’s move, Diokno highlighted his legislative efforts to institutionalize transparency. He cited House Resolution 271, which he authored to compel the House Secretary General to release the SALNs of all members of Congress.
“Naghain din tayo ng resolusyon (HR 271) para ilabas ng Secretary General ng House of Representatives ang SALN ng lahat ng miyembro ng Kongreso. Malinaw ang ating paniniwala: transparency is essential to rebuilding public trust,” he added.
The Ombudsman’s directive comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over infrastructure spending. By examining lawmakers’ SALNs, investigators aim to determine whether personal wealth aligns with legal income or if “red flags” suggest kickbacks from flood control contracts.
Under Republic Act 6713, all government officials must file SALNs to monitor unexplained wealth.
However, restrictive access guidelines in recent years have made Diokno’s call for full disclosure a direct challenge to the status quo in Congress.