OMBUDSMAN GUTIERREZ'S MEMO ON SALN ILLEGAL - CHIZ

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday denounced Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for issuing an illegal memorandum imposing additional requirements before releasing copies of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN) to interested parties.

"Its illegal as it hinders or hampers free flow and access to information on matters of public concern," said the 39-year old lawmaker.

"Confidentiality is the anti-thesis of "public document." Besides the Ombudsman is not vanguard but the keeper of the SALN so that the public can have better access to it," he pointed out.

Ombudsman Gutierrez issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 on June 16, 2009 requiring a statement stating the reasons for the request and sworn into before a prosecutor of the anti-graft body and the presentation of two government-issued identification cards.

The circular also states that requests made by the public or media for copies of the SALN may be denied outright if the purpose is "contrary to morals or public policy, or is commercial in nature other than by news and communication media for dissemination to the general public."

It also says that the circular was issued because a request for the SALN may be "made under circumstances which may endanger, diminish, or destroy the independence and objectivity of the Office of the Ombudsman..."

"Instead of aggressively running after corrupt officials, the Ombudsman has decided to arrogate unto itself the additional task of safeguarding our morals and public policy," said Escudero.

"What other pretext will it think of next to make it more difficult for us to help fight corruption? The Ombudsman must rescind the memorandum immediately," he said.