‘NINGAS-KUGON’ | Duterte’s non-disclosure of SALN mars transparency in government

July 19, 2021 , 03:31 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(July 19, 2021) – President Rodrigo Duterte has failed to promote transparency under his administration because of his refusal to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), a senior researcher from the Ateneo School of Government said on Monday.

Edilberto de Jesus, a former secretary of the Department of Education, called the government’s transparency efforts a form of “ningas-kugon”—a Filipino term describing one’s tendency to show enthusiasm at the start only to lose interest afterward.

In 2016, Duterte signed an executive order mandating government agencies to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests in a bid to give the public easier access to government records.

“This was not followed up by any clear effort to institutionalize FOI through legislation, and the commitment to greater transparency was also quickly dispelled and undermined by the president’s refusal to make his SALNs public,” said De Jesus in a study.

Duterte’s last available SALN was in 2017, showing his net worth increased by P1 million to reach P28.5 million. Journalists have repeatedly requested his subsequent wealth declaration records but he has refused to issue them.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said they’re only trying to respect the Office of the Ombudsman’s rule on the release of SALNs. Last September, the Ombudsman restricted public access to these records, fearing they could be used to malign government officials.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) said it was the first time in three decades that the country’s president was able to keep his wealth records confidential.

It would be much more difficult to seek them now in light of the Supreme Court ruling affirming the Ombudsman’s rule, saying government officials’ SALNs are not the same as “an absolute vested right.”

[READ: SALN STILL RESTRICTED | Supreme Court affirms Ombudsman’s restrictions on release of SALN]

“The power to regulate access by the public to these documents stems from the inherent power of the custodian to control this very office to the end that damage to, or loss of, the records may be avoided, and that the right of other persons entitled to make inspection may be secured,” said the ruling.

Duterte’s moves over the last five years contradict his campaign promises to ensure efficiency and transparency in the government. It is just one of the many other vows he has failed to carry out in his presidency, including the drug menace, corruption, and contractualization.

De Jesus pointed out that Duterte’s failure to eradicate corruption could be attributed to his appointment of close allies in government positions. Although many of them eventually resigned, De Jesus said it was not enough.

“No investigation or charges followed them from the sacking and the favorable impression gained by their dismissal quickly dissipated when they began surfacing in other government offices. Many of these officials were merely recycled and re-appointed to other positions,” said De Jesus.

(PM)

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