Do SALNs work? Some officials fake them — expert

Calling for the publicizing of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of public officials may be of no use, as public officials may be falsifying their SALNs, according to a tax expert.

Mon Abrea, a former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) examiner, said he witnessed such practices during his time in government.

“I used to work in the BIR so I know that they also fake the SALN,” he said.

He added that some officials hide assets by using the names of relatives or not disclosing certain accounts. “So sometimes they don't give their names or they don't give them to the bank. But not all of them. Others give their names to their children, their spouses, their cousins. It's easy to investigate if someone can provide information,” he explained.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla recently lifted restrictions on public access to SALNs that were imposed under his predecessor, Samuel Martires.

Abrea supported the move. "What is the purpose of the SALN if only they can see it? That's why they are cheating even more, they are not taking it seriously," he said again, emphasizing that public access is necessary.

"The SALN is like a financial position where you can see how their wealth is moving, if they have any debts," he continued.

Abrea urged the public to watch for two red flags in SALNs: unexplained wealth and discrepancies in officials’ lifestyles.