Court releases CJ’S ‘uncorrected’ SALN version

In Solar News TV report, Sereno’s net worth was P18,029,575.51 based on the SALN copy provided by the SC’s Office of the Clerk of Court But the SALN provided by the SC PIO to the media shows that the new chief justice’s net worth was only P17,985,375.51

THE Supreme Court (SC) has released a copy of the 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of newly-installed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Aranal Sereno, which turned out to be the “uncorrected version” as stated by the Office of the Chief Justice in a statement issued yesterday.

“The SALN of the Chief Justice as of Dec. 31, 2011 released last night (Thursday) by the Office of the Chief Justice is the uncorrected version,” the Office of the Chief Justice’s statement said.

Last Tuesday, Sereno agreed to release in full her SALN without any conditions.

The SC Public Information Office (PIO) said that apart from the SALN, the chief justice would also issue a statement.

Late Tuesday night, the SC PIO said that the release of the SALN and the statement would be deferred to Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the SC PIO informed the media that the release of the SALN of the chief justice would be on Thursday.

Solar News TV on Thursday reported that the SC approved their request for a copy of the SALN of the justices.

In their report, Sereno’s net worth is P18,029,575.51 based on the SALN copy provided by the SC’s Office of the Clerk of Court.

However, the SALN provided by the SC PIO to the media showed that Sereno’s net worth was only P17,985,375.51.

Comparing the two SALNs would show discrepancies such as the following:

The uncorrected version showed a P1-million improvement cost on Sereno’s Filinvest East house and lot, which she acquired in 2005 for P4.5 million, while the version from the Clerk of Court did not show the improvement cost;

The uncorrected version showed receivables worth P3,537,130.25, while the amount was trimmed down to P1,203,400 in the other version.

In the Personal and other Properties (uncorrected SALN version), a Toyota Altis 2005 worth P760,000, a Toyota Corolla 1997 model worth P320,000, second-hand Mitsubishi Lancer worth P95,000, cash in bank worth P1,185,602.60, and receivables worth P3,537,130.25, less five percent allowance for bad debt added up to a total of P8,746,078.85.

In the corrected version, the total grew to P10,990,278.85, with “Receivables” replaced by “Investments” worth P1,203,400.

In a statement, Sereno said, “the correction of the SALNs of the Members of the Court has been authorized by the Court En Banc. The correct version is the one released by the Clerk of Court.”

In a separate statement, Sereno said she has indicated in her SALN the amount she earned from the legal fees paid by the government to her in connection with cases involving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (Naia3).

“The payment was made to her for services rendered from Oct. 23, 2003 to July 31, 200, a period of more than four years and nine months,” she said.