“The cause of Justice can have no sturdier shield than the integrity of those who are tasked with discharging it. The decision of Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Maria Lourdes Sereno to release the summaries of their SALN is commendable,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
Lacierda said members of the judiciary disclosing their assets have everything to gain from embracing transparency and accountability, noting that the Palace believed that demonstrating faith in the Filipino is the best way to obtain and retain public confidence.
It is regrettable that while it is simple to disclose their SALNs for public inspection, there are those who so fear people’s scrutiny, Lacierda said.
“We call on the judiciary to join the legislature and the executive in making the disclosure of SALNs a routine reality,” he added.
Carpio and Sereno were the only members of the SC to respond to the request of Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to release the summaries of their SALNs.
The group has been asking SC Chief Justice Renato Corona to release his SALN. Corona’s failure to disclose his SALN is among the key charges used by the House justice committee in filing an impeachment complaint against him.
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