‘Next ombudsman must allow access to officials’ SALN’

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July 8, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The next ombudsman must commit to transparency and accountability, including allowing disclosure of government officials’ statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), an advocacy group said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Democracy Watch PH convenor Lloyd Zaragoza said the next ombudsman must be someone who has a proven track record of independence, integrity and unwavering commitment to fighting corruption.

“We feel that the appointment of the next ombudsman – considering that he or she will be serving the next seven years, way beyond the term of the next administration – will have a lasting implication on public accountability,” he said.

While outgoing Ombudsman Samuel Martires was able to implement some reforms, Zaragoza said his successor must “open the gates” for more information.

“We’re talking here about the disclosure of SALN, which has been barred by the present ombudsman at this point,” he pointed out.

“Hopefully there would be some improvement on that because it is our right as citizens to know what these public officials declared in their SALN,” he added.

Martires, in an earlier order, restricted the access to SALNs of public officials and limited their release under certain conditions.

Seventeen applicants including Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla are applying to succeed Martires.

Zaragoza said the next ombudsman must be a “bulwark of integrity and answerable only to the Constitution and the Filipino people.”

He urged Filipinos to monitor the public interviews and take an active role in the selection of the next ombudsman.

“Whoever the ombudsman will be, I think the public deserves someone who will act without fear or favor, and without these political pressures,” he added.

Also among the applicants are Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, retired SC associate justice Mario Lopez, former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares-Jacinto, Sandiganbayan Presiding Judge Geraldine Econg, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Musngi, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Beda Epres, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Felix Reyes, Philippine Competition Commission chair Michael Aguinaldo and PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag.