Senate junks new SALN form

Members of the upper chamber have expressed their opposition to the new statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) format the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has required of them.

“We are very much concerned about the new form of SALN because aside from the fact that it’s too nitty gritty even the toiletries have to be included,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III yesterday said.

“It is in contrast to what the intention of the Consti-tution is,” he stressed.

Sotto said they will file a resolution on Tuesday to stop the implementation of the new SALn form.

Under the new SALn, public officials and employees are now also required to disclose sources and amount of their gross income, personal and family expenses and amount of total income tax paid.

“Yes, there will be a Senate session on Tuesday morning (next week) and the Senate will pass a resolution to this effect,” Sotto told reporters.

He said the SALn form should be simplified “so that even ordinary government employees will understand it.”

“It is more complicated compared to the old form,” he added.

Sotto said the Senate committee on civil service and government reorganization chairman, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, will sponsor the resolution.

“It should be deferred first in a Senate resolution and most probably Senator Trillanes will sponsor that resolution,” he added.

Sotto personally questioned the inclusion of the estimated amount of the family expenses in the new form.

“As being pointed out by the Senate President (Juan Ponce Enrile) which I brought out earlier (in the hearing). They (CSC) should make it simple for easier filing, easier to fill up, easier for accuracy,” the majority leader stressed.

Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson also questioned the new SALn form which the CSC is set to implement beginning this year.

Earlier, members of the House minority bloc joined forces with majority camp in the lower chamber to oppose the new SALn, claiming it is violative of their constitutional rights. PNA