SC denies alleged lack of transparency in denial of BIR’s requests for justices’ SALNs

Supreme Court of the Philippines. Photo by Mike Gonzales courtesy of Wiki Commons.

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has denied the alleged lack of transparency of the SC justices due to the denial by the SC En Banc of the requests of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to be furnished with a copy of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs) of the justices.

The denial was made by the SC after Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. stressed on Sunday the importance of transparency in the light of the denial by the SC En Banc on the requests of the BIR.

In a statement, SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Atty. Theodore O. Te said the justices of the SC recognize the importance of transparency and the publication of the SALNs.

However, Te said that the denial by the SC of the requests of the BIR for the copy of the justices’ SALNs was not an indication of lack of transparency in the ranks of the justices.

Te reiterated his earlier statement that the SC’s furnishing the copy of the SALNs of the justices to the members of the media, civil society and law students has proven that they are not hiding anything.

In a resolution promulgated on June 13, 2012, the SC issued the guidelines, which was last revised on June 27, 2012, allowing the public access to the SALNs of the justices upon compliance with the guidelines.

In its resolution, the SC said that “the power to regulate the access by the public to these documents stems from the inherent power of the Court, as custodian of these personal documents, to control its very office to the end that damage to, or loss of, the records may be avoided; that undue interference with the duties of the custodian of the books and documents and other employees may be prevented; and that the right of other persons entitled to make inspection may be insured.”

Te also cited the guidelines issued by the SC in its resolution dated June 27, 2012 where it addressed the apprehension that the release of the SALNs can be utilized by some individuals who have motives against the justices.

In the June 27, 2012 resolution, the SC said that it recognizes that there is no prohibition in the “access” of the SALNs of the officials, however, it is subject to regulation.