Marilyn Cahatol

Members of the progressive group Bunyog gather outside the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Tuesday to demand the release and publication of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials allegedly involved in large-scale corruption. The group calls for transparency and accountability, urging the Ombudsman to take decisive action and uphold the public’s right to information.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

GHOST FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:617px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176225249913820251021-anti-corruption-ombudsman-bunyog-MT.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the progressive group Bunyog gather outside the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Tuesday to demand the release and publication of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials allegedly involved in large-scale corruption. The group calls for transparency and accountability, urging the Ombudsman to take decisive action and uphold the public’s right to information. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the progressive group Bunyog gather outside the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Tuesday to demand the release and publication of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials allegedly involved in large-scale corruption. The group calls for transparency and accountability, urging the Ombudsman to take decisive action and uphold the public’s right to information. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday warned that some details on Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) could lead to possible violations on data privacy, noting that transparency and right to privacy should be balanced.</p><p>In a public briefing, NPC Deputy Commissioner Jose Belarmino II said there are no data privacy issues if a senator or other government officials themselves publicize their SALNs, but outlined some caveats.</p><p>“Iyong ginagawa naman po ng ating mga media na pagsapubliko noong SALN din ng ating mga senador ay hindi rin po covered ng Data Privacy Act (DPA) dahil if ito ay para for journalistic purposes, hindi po siya covered ng DPA,” said Belarmino over a briefing aired on state-run PTV.</p><p>“May mga potensiyal na puwedeng violation kung iyong mga impormasyon na iri-release ay hindi naman po naaayon sa purpose kung bakit kinakailangang isapubliko iyong SALN katulad na lang, halimbawa may anak na menor de edad ang mga senador eh hindi po ito ni-redact. Medyo magkakaroon tayo ng violation dahil hindi naman iyon eh salok ng pagsapubliko ng SALN,” he added.</p><p>The official reminded the public that while submitting SALNs is intended for transparency purposes, as stated in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, a party requesting this should state their purpose.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/24/-what-is-in-a-saln-and-how-is-it-used-to-fight-corruption-1208">What is in a SALN, and how is it used to fight corruption?</a></div><p>He said the Office of the Ombudsman coordinated with the NPC regarding Memorandum Circular 3, which restored SALN access.</p><p>“Kailangang i-state iyong purpose at kailangan po iyong ahensiya na may repository ng SALN na iyon ay babalansehin po iyong right to privacy ng ating government official,” he said.</p><p>“Prinovide namin ang aming guidelines, suportado namin ito dahil talaga naman pong para sa transparency sa gobyerno at to deter iyong pagkakaroon ng korapsiyon sa ating mga government officials,” he said.</p><p>Despite all of these, government officials and employees are entitled to their right to privacy.</p><p>This was why an individual must redact or leave out some information from the SALN that does not fall on their purpose — such as home address, birth dates, age of their children, among other things.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/3/reforms-needed-as-saln-failed-to-capture-true-lifestyle-of-officials-up-professor-1255">Reforms needed as SALN &#x27;failed&#x27; to capture true lifestyle of officials: UP professor</a></div><p>“Itong mga bagay na ito ay hindi naman po kinakailangan para sa declared purpose,” he said.</p><p>“May mga sensitive personal information sa ating mga SALN — nandiyan iyong mga government-issued IDs, nandiyan iyong birth date natin, birth date ng mga anak natin at iba’t iba pa pong impormasyon ‘no. At kung hindi nga po ito kakailanganin doon sa purpose, kailangan pong i-redact iyon kasi iyong mga SPI po or sensitive personal information, puwede po iyang magamit para sa iba’t ibang threat eh ‘no, cyber threat,” he said.</p><p>There are examples, meanwhile, of redacted information that could be released to the public, but there are limits, he said.</p><p>“Halimbawa, kailangan i-compare kung iyong ginagamit ba sigurong TIN ng isang public official ay similar doon sa declared TIN niya. Pupwede naman pong ilabas iyon para po for purposes of comparing and filing a case kung talagang may violation na nangyari,” the official said.</p><p>“Subalit iyong ilalabas po na iyon, iyong pagbibigyan ay dapat po hindi na niya isapubliko kasi hindi naman po kinakailangan iyon ‘no na malaman pa ng lahat ng tao,” he said.</p><p>“Puwede niyang i-claim na lang or sabihin na after ng assessment ng ahensiya na iyon na napatunayan na iyong nasa SALN na TIN at iyong talagang in-issue ng BIR ay magkaiba. So, ganoon po ang dapat na i-handle iyong sitwasyon na iyon,” he added.</p><p>The SALN, in its current form, mandates a public official to declare their assets, liabilities, and net worth, as well as their financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and unmarried children under age 18.</p><p>In recent years, the document has been used by the public, especially journalists, to expose potential corruption by investigating a politician&#x27;s true assets and business ventures and comparing them to those declared in their SALNs.</p><p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla last month announced the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/ombudsman-restores-public-access-to-salns-of-government-officials-1739">restoration </a>of public access to SALNs.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/3/clavano-office-of-the-ombudsman-to-keep-saln-digital-records-forever-1759">Clavano: Office of the Ombudsman to keep SALN digital records forever</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gL3mVzqyJOk?si=3_Ci9nKAdGVDa4kc" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday warned that some details on Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) could lead to possible violations on data privacy.</p>

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Tuesday warned that some details on Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) could lead to possible violations on data privacy.

Can publicizing SALN lead to data privacy violations? NPC weighs in

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Can publicizing SALN lead to data privacy violations? NPC weighs in

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 04, 2025 06:43 PM PHT

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