The SALN and the Chief Justice

SO many debates and discussions have graced the television networks about the insignificance of the SALN, the Statement of Assets,Liabilities and Networth “...an annual document that all government workers in the Philippines, whether regular or temporary, must complete and submit attesting under oath to their total assets and liabilities, including businesses and financial interests, that make up their net worth. The assets and liabilities of the official, his or her spouse, and any unmarried children under 18 who are living at home must be included. Real property must be listed with the ‘description, kind, location, year and mode of acquisition, assessed value, fair market value, acquisition cost of land, building, etc. including improvements thereon.’ Any ‘co-mingled' assets, such as a house coowned by siblings, must also be listed.[3] Any gifts, donations, inheritance, or other property received at no cost must be listed at the fair market value and the assessed value. ”(Official Gazette, RP)

Many of the defenders of CJ Sereno have underscored the absence of value of this paper to her case and her situation. They say that many government workers and officials do not submit this requirement either. So what goes? Is there really no significance attached to the SALN? A very safe reason for not wanting the CJ to stay in her position is of course the non submission of this paper. However, our books say that “SALNs are often used by political opponents or other government officials to determine if government leaders or workers have ‘unexplained wealth’, i.e. wealth that cannot be attributed to a salary, investment, gifts, inheritance, or other legal sources and therefore are likely to have come from bribes, kickbacks, grease money or other forms of corruption. During the trial for