Biz groups push lifestyle checks, full SALN disclosure for gov't officials

The country’s largest business organizations have called for lifestyle checks among government officials to ensure that all inputs in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth submitted by agency officials are true and correct.

“We call for truthful and public submission of SALNs by all government officials, and mandatory lifestyle checks to validate these disclosures. Without rigorous verification, SALNs remain symbolic records rather than effective tools against corruption,” the business groups, composed of the Management Association of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Justice Reform Initiative, Institute of Solidarity in Asia, and Shareholders Association of the Philippines, said in a joint statement on Thursday.

The groups anchored their call to the Philippine Constitution, particularly Article XI, Section 17, which mandates that every public official, both elected and appointed, submit a sworn SALN upon assuming office.

The organizations further stressed that high-ranking officials must even make a full public disclosure, based on Republic Act (RA) No. 6713, which extends SALN requirements to spouses and minor children living in the same household and mandates annual updates.

“The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act imposes penalties, including disqualification and imprisonment, while the Plunder Law punishes with lifetime imprisonment those who amass ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million, a low benchmark given what we now know,” the groups highlighted.

Moreover, the business organizations reiterated that while the recent Ombudsman decision restoring public access to SALNs is welcome, transparency alone is insufficient.

They also pointed out that under RA 1379, as confirmed by a recent Supreme Court decision, any property “manifestly out of proportion” to an official’s lawful income is presumed ill-gotten and subject to forfeiture.

“Lifestyle audits enable this legal presumption. Discrepancies uncovered through these checks must trigger immediate, impartial investigations and prosecutions under the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate,” the statement further read.

On the other hand, the organizations called on the public to remain vigilant and report signs of excessive or unexplained wealth among officials.

“The corruption we now see, we cannot unseen. We can no longer allow pilferage to prosper under the cover of pretense, political patronage, and public indifference,” the statement inculcated.