Aquino to SC: File SALNs

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Apolinario Mabini at the Mabini Shrine in Barangay Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas on Wednesday (July 23). With the theme: “Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan,” the yearlong festivity aims to honor Mabini, the “Sublime Paralytic,” as the brains behind the Philippine revolution. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Following the inquiry on the Judiciary Development Fund, President Aquino is now asking the Supreme Court to clean their names and file their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

“It’s in the Constitution. You need to file your SALN. We—the President, the Vice President, justices of the Supreme Court, heads of other constitutional commissions, and toward that end, the officers of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] with flag rank—have to make this statement public. If you want, I can find it for you,” Aquino said.

The statement was made following the Supreme Court’s refusal to submit their SALN, rejecting the Bureau of National Revenue’s (BIR) request for copies.

The Supreme Court, through Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno asked for their exclusion in the justice commitee inquiry on the JDF.

Sereno asked the committee to wait until the high court has decided on the government’s motion to struck down their former decision declaring certain parts on the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to be unconstitutional. 

Several reports on the House calling for Sereno’s impeachment because of the alleged discrepancies in the JDF.

It could be noted that aside from the disappointment caused to the executive branch by the declaration of certain parts in the DAP to be unconstitutional, the SC also has earlier disappointed the legislative branch after striking down their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).