Makati businessmen oppose proposal to jail SALN critics

PRIVATE sector groups have expressed strong opposition to the proposal to criminalize commenting on the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNS) of government officials, as they underscored the importance of integrity and good governance.

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Integrity Initiative, Judicial Reform Initiative and Makati Business Club said in a joint statement on Wednesday that criminalizing opinions on SALNS goes against the freedom of speech, which is a “pillar of our democracy.”

The groups stressed that SALN is part of a system of laws and institutions to ensure integrity, adding that the Ombudsman should be the “first to insist on transparency.”

“The Ombudsman should prosecute government officials involved in graft and fraud not persecute citizens who complain about them, or comment on their SALN. This overprotection at the expense of civil liberties is as corrupt, or even more corrupt than the corruption it is preventing to be exposed,” Integrity Initiative Chairman Alexander Cabrera said.

Last week, Ombudsman Samuel Martires proposed penalties such as imprisonment of at least five years for any individuals making comment on the SALN of a government official or employee.

The parties stressed that the leaders in both the government and business sectors should take part in promoting integrity in the society.

“We need leaders with integrity who will work for the people, not themselves, who will ensure public resources go to the common good, not their private interest,” they added.

They stressed that “to now criminalize comments on them would in effect chip away at our constitutional right to public information and official records.”

The signatories explained that promoting a culture of integrity and good governance would also bode well for the business sector as it attracts investments that can generate job opportunities.

“To attract investment, businesspeople need to know they have a fair chance to succeed. A fair chance that comes from not having competitors who have an unfair edge because those competitors are bribing officials. A fair chance that comes from not having to bribe officials themselves just to stay in business,” they explained.

Last month, several business groups, educational institutions and other private sector organizations threw their support behind the constitutional authority and duty of Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct examinations of government agencies’ accounts and expenditures.

Citing the Constitution, the private sector groups stressed that it is the constitutional duty of the COA to submit an annual report of its findings, in addition to publishing said documents. It is the constitutional right of the public to know said information, they added.