3 Ombudsman candidates again way of life checks

File picture of the Office of the Ombudsman. Philippine Daily Inquirer / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Three candidates for Ombudsman on the second day of public interviews by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) had been supportive of conducting way of life checks on authorities officers, recognizing it as a fundamental energy of the place.

The candidates shared their sentiments amid a current order by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to conduct a life-style test on authorities officers, starting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as his administration investigates the alleged anomalies in flood-control tasks nationwide.

READ: Transparency urged in selecting Ombudsman

Former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares burdened {that a} way of life test is an “inherent power” of the Ombudsman and one in all its “major tools” to fight and stop corruption.

“That’s one of the basic things that an Ombudsman must do, in fact the President himself has already ordered a lifestyle check,” she stated in an opportunity interview with reporters.

Jacinto-Henares defined that way of life checks additionally prolong to the households of presidency officers, permitting authorities to evaluation their earnings and way of life based mostly on the taxes they’ve paid.

“Did you file your income tax return? Did you pay your taxes? So here are all your properties, but you only paid P100,000—then that’s not enough, right? That’s tax evasion,” she identified.

“Because if the child claims it, then the child is the one guilty of tax evasion. If the parent claims it, then the parent is the one… and aside from tax evasion, they also have illegally obtained wealth,” she added.

Meanwhile, one other applicant, Human Rights Commissioner Beda Epres, famous that way of life checks for officers’ households and relations would nonetheless depend upon the proof gathered by authorities.

“That would all depend on the evidence we gather… if the illegally acquired wealth was transferred to the children, relatives, or spouse, then they would also be implicated,” stated Epres.

“What will be looked at here is whether their assets are commensurate with the salary they receive. What’s important is whether those were acquired through lawful means,” he added.

Both he and Jacinto-Henares, nonetheless, consider that the Republic Act 6770—which states that the Ombudsman has the facility to analyze and provoke correct motion for the restoration of ill-gotten and unexplained wealth—is sufficient foundation for the Ombudsman to conduct way of life checks.

For Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, nonetheless, the Ombudsman’s energy to conduct way of life checks shouldn’t be clearly acknowledged by the regulation.

“I am pro-lifestyle check but then the law has to be clear that it is given and granted to the Office of the Ombudsman,” she stated.

Econg additionally believes way of life checks would routinely embrace the households of officers, as they can’t be remoted.

“Because you cannot isolate naman a public official and say that this lifestyle check is only up to or just for him,” stated Econg.

Econg defined that it’s the Ombudsman’s investigation that may substantiate allegations towards relations, notably what the general public sees on their social media

Apart from the subject of way of life checks, all three candidates expressed intent to open—or on the very least, revisit—the restrictions at present applied on the discharge of Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of public officers .

Jacinto-Henares burdened that since SALNs are categorized as a public doc, it ought to due to this fact be accessible to the general public.

She, however, clarified that restrictions beneath legal guidelines that shield private info must be adopted, whereas making certain that the whole particulars concerning an official’s supply of earnings is supplied.

Meanwhile, Econg stated that she is going to look into the restriction on the SALN, believing that it’s too restrictive to solely grant entry when an official agrees to it.

“You know, Justice Martires is my colleague for a long time and it’s not that I’m criticizing him. He is right in setting certain limits but I think the limits should also be reasonable to gain access to the SALN,” she stated.

“I believe the media should be given the right to access the SALN,” she added.

Econg additionally famous {that a} sworn assertion have to be submitted by whoever is requesting entry to an official’s SALN that they may use in good religion and never only for political causes.

“So there should be a sworn statement para we can also make you accountable or whoever is requesting it accountable,” stated Econg.

Like Jacinto-Henares, Econg additionally famous that some private info on officers’ SALNs should nonetheless be redacted.

Epres, then again, dedicated that he’ll revisit the restrictions at present set on the discharge of SALNs, ought to he be chosen as the following Ombudsman. /gsg