Jonathan Frederic De Santos

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. presides over a Cabinet meeting at the State Dining Room, Malacanan Palace on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. KJ Rosales, PPA Pool/File

Article (news)

RG Cruz

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — After he ordered a lifestyle check on all government officials following alleged corruption in flood control projects, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his Cabinet, and lawmakers should disclose their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) to set an example, a senator said Thursday. </p><p>When <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/27/marcos-orders-lifestyle-check-on-all-gov-t-officials-amid-flood-project-probe-1141">Marcos announced the lifestyle check</a>, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she assumed that the President himself was also covered by the order.</p><p>&quot;Kung nag-utos si Presidente ng lifestyle check, magandang halimbawa at magpapakita din ang pamumuno kung kasamang ibubunyag &#x27;yung kanyang SALN,&quot; Hontiveros said, adding that she is willing to disclose her SALN and hopes her colleagues in the Senate will follow suit.</p><p>(Since the President ordered a lifestyle check, he would set a good example and show leadership by disclosing his SALN.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/vico-on-contractors-kin-flaunting-wealth-gawin-natin-siyang-hindi-normal-hindi-nakaka-inspire-1222">Vico on contractors’ kin flaunting wealth: ‘Gawin natin siyang hindi normal, hindi nakaka-inspire’</a></div><div><strong>RIGHT TO KNOW: MARCOS JR., CABINET SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE</strong></div><p>Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, a network of freedom of information advocates, issued a similar challenge to Marcos and other officials on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;The President and his Cabinet should also publish their SALNs to lead by example,&quot; the group said in a <a href="https://r2krn.org/release-all-salns-dpwh-dtisec-bir-records/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMcy0dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4T01FYUtvTXZqM0pxZlozAR42EcHwxcjKrYt0quaWRfMEaijAu07J6o-3uwqDlgPXWbWewX4VFqfiKSl8fA_aem_mQkVxs3sjKx7gmY9ILOzTw">statement</a>, noting that the disclosures could be made through the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.</p><p>They also said Marcos Jr. should lay down a clear roadmap on the audits and investigations and impose timelines on their outcomes &quot;to prevent the current anti-corruption drive from becoming another short-term, optics-only campaign.&quot;</p><p>They added &quot;proactive publication of SALNs is an essential measure to ensure that efforts to curb corruption are comprehensive and credible.&quot;</p><p>Access to SALNs has been an issue, especially since the Duterte presidency, when his officials said the only requirement for transparency is to file the wealth declarations.</p><p>The coalition also urged lawmakers to release their SALNs, pointing out that some of them are being linked to the alleged anomalous infrastructure projects &quot;not only through congressional insertions, but also through relationships with contractors.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/escudero-denies-hand-in-flood-control-projects-secured-by-campaign-donor-1516"><strong>Escudero denies hand in flood control projects secured by campaign donor</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/a-deeper-look-into-marcos-s-list-of-top-flood-control-contractors-0037"><strong>A deeper look into Marcos’s list of top flood control contractors</strong></a></div><p>Under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, government officials are required to submit their SALNs. However, the release and publication of SALNs could prove difficult.</p><p>In 2020, the anti-graft Office of the Ombudsman issued <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/10/21/palace-respects-ombudsman-jail-bid-for-saln-critics">a memorandum </a>that allowed the release of SALNs only for official investigations, by court order, or upon authority from officials themselves.</p><p>Scrutiny of SALNs may lead to the discovery of ill-gotten or unexplained wealth.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/candidates-for-ombudsman-open-to-review-strict-rules-on-saln-disclosures-1412"><strong>Candidates for Ombudsman open to review strict rules on SALN disclosures</strong></a></div><div><strong>NO &#x27;OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY OF WEALTH&#x27; </strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero said Thursday he supports lifestyle checks.</p><p>Citing the Constitution, Escudero said public officials must lead modest lives, stressing that &quot;they shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/8/28/bir-begins-lifestyle-check-on-contractors-who-flaunt-lavish-assets-to-look-into-gov-t-officials-1501"><strong>BIR begins lifestyle check on contractors who ‘flaunt’ lavish assets, to look into gov’t officials next</strong></a></div><p>Hontiveros said that lifestyle checks help cultivate a culture of transparency in the government.</p><p>She also said she supports the statement of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who said that &quot;big fish&quot; in the flood control mess should be caught to prove to the public that individuals would be held accountable. </p><p>&quot;Hindi lang sa baha, nilulunod din sila (publiko) sa korupsyon,&quot; she said.</p><p>Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said lifestyle checks are a necessary step to combat corruption.</p><p>&quot;This is a vital step towards restoring public trust and ensuring accountability. With numerous anomalous flood control projects involving billions in public funds, we must take the fight against corruption seriously and implement it comprehensively,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zLpy_XUVseg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div> </div>

<p>After he ordered a lifestyle check on all government officials following alleged corruption in flood control projects, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his Cabinet, and lawmakers should to disclose their SALNs to set an example, a senator said Thursday.</p>

After he ordered a lifestyle check on all government officials following alleged corruption in flood control projects, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his Cabinet, and lawmakers should to disclose their SALNs to set an example, a senator said Thursday.

'Lead by example': Marcos, lawmakers urged to release SALNs amid lifestyle checks

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'Lead by example': Marcos, lawmakers urged to release SALNs amid lifestyle checks

RG Cruz,

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 28, 2025 04:28 PM PHT

|

Updated August 28, 2025 05:13 PM PHT

Read More:

SALN

lifestyle check

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

flood control projects

Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth

SALN

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