Camille Naredo

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano. Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Ombudsman

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1762163795167viber_image_2025-11-03_17-43-54-376.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano. Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano. <em>Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman will keep digital records of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) forever, according to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano.</p><p>But the office will hold the physical versions for just 20 years. </p><p>&quot;The 20 years is a result of ‘yung prescriptive period as described in RA 3019. The prescriptive period for any of the violations of RA 3019 is now 20 years kaya natin binago ang mga periods for the accessibility of physical SALNs. So as long as finile niyo within 20 years, we will keep it physically for 20 years,&quot; Clavano said on Monday.</p><p>&quot;But after that, basta mayroon na tayong digital record that will be there virtually forever. And the reasoning there is it can always be used for comparison from more than 20 years ago na ganito po ‘yung nakalagay sa SALN up until today, let&#x27;s say 2025, na sobrang lumaki. Only as a matter of comparison,” he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/30/no-need-to-wait-for-guidelines-to-release-saln-house-members-told-1901">READ: No need to wait for guidelines to release SALN, House members told</a></div><p>This means the SALNs filed over 20 years ago can no longer be used as evidence of a crime, but they remain accessible.</p><p>During previous ombudsman Samuel Martires’ term, SALNs are destroyed 10 years after receipt “unless needed in an on-going investigation.”</p><p>Clavano added that the accessibility of digital records can help track public officials’ accumulation of wealth. </p><p>“You can use the statement at any point in time, SALN, and compare it to future declarations and future statements. So that&#x27;s one way. And obviously, ang isa pang tool that is usually used in conjunction with SALNs is the lifestyle check. So if there&#x27;s any information or intelligence po na ‘yung SALN at a certain point in time ay misdeclared or may mga misrepresentations, mayroong hindi nilagay doon na alam natin siya ang may-ari at a certain point in time, then you can compare,” Clavano said.</p><p>It may also take 15 days for the SALN requests to be granted initially.</p><p>But once the documents are all scanned and digitalized, Clavano said this will “definitely become much faster.”</p><p>The fee to request a SALN will also be “very minimal,” Clavano added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>COURTESY RESIGNATIONS AT OFFICE OF OMBUDSMAN</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Clavano noted that almost all employees of the Office of the Ombudsman ordered to file courtesy resignations have already done so, showing “good faith” from everybody and trust in the new ombudsman.</p><p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla recently requested 204 new employees to reapply due to concerns they are “midnight appointees.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/20/remulla-orders-204-suspected-midnight-appointees-in-ombudsman-to-reapply-1818">READ: Remulla orders 204 suspected &#x27;midnight appointees&#x27; in Ombudsman to reapply</a></div><p>A few have refused to submit their courtesy resignations, but Clavano believes this is something they can overcome. </p><p>When asked if there are employees not following through with the request, Clavano answered, “Very, very, very minimal nalang po. Pero sa tingin po natin, it’s something that we can overcome already.”</p><p>Clavano said they will now look at the process each employee went through for promotions.</p>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman will keep digital records of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) forever, according to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman will keep digital records of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) forever, according to Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano.

Clavano: Office of the Ombudsman to keep SALN digital records forever

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Clavano: Office of the Ombudsman to keep SALN digital records forever

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 03, 2025 05:59 PM PHT

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SALN

digital records

Office of the Ombudsman

courtesy resignation

Mico Clavano

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