Ombudsman stops lifestyle checks on public execs

by Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star), 23 Sep 2020

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no more lifestyle checks on officials suspected of stealing taxpayers’ money, according to Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who called the procedure “illogical.”

“What is living beyond your means? If he earns P50,000 monthly, lives in a small house, (is) able to save and bought a BMW on a promo and zero-interest basis, he can afford to buy it. Is he living beyond his means? I don’t think so. What he has are distorted values and distorted priorities,” Martires said of officials suspected of involvement in corruption, at a House hearing on the proposed P3.7-billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2021.

“I want to propose to Congress for some amendments in Republic Act 6713, where some of its provisions are really vague, walang hulog sa logic,” he told lawmakers.

In the digital age, the law is no longer attuned to realities, he pointed out.

He declared that both houses of Congress should amend the law governing the conduct of public officials if the government really wants to stamp out deep-rooted bureaucratic corruption.

Martires – a former Supreme Court and Sandiganbayan justice – was referring to the 31-year-old Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. RA 6713 was enacted in the 8th Congress under the first Aquino administration.

“We have to redefine what is living beyond your means. What is simple living to me may not be simple living to you or anyone,” Martires stressed.

Martires has drawn flak for restricting public access to copies of the annual statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of all officials – from the President down to Supreme Court justices.

He emphasized that pinning down officials involved in shenanigans in government does not need a SALN law.

“Where do we use SALN? SALN is used to malign government officials,” he declared.

Violations of the SALN law paved the way for the removal of former chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and her predecessor, the late Renato Corona, who was convicted by the Senate impeachment court in 2012.