By Raïssa E. Robles
Congressman Tedoro Casiño personally released this morning his own Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) without waiting for anyone to ask him.
I’m glad he did. I hope he starts the ball rolling with the rest of the congressmen and senators. And those in the Executive Department. The Judiciary. The police and military top brass.
Oops, I nearly forgot. Also the top officials of the COA, Comelec and Ombudsman Office.
Here is Casiño’s two-page SALN below:
I remember asking House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte just after he had assumed his post in 2010 whether Congress could automatically post the SALN of all the lawmakers on its website together with a detailed listing of their “pork barrel” projects.
Belmonte, widower of my late editor Betty Go-Belmonte, told me that would be “difficult”.
I laud Casiño for making his SALN public.
But I would like all lawmakers including Casino, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, to make their SALN more VERIFIABLE.
This goes the same for officials in the Executive Department, the Judiciary, and even the military.
Having examined SALNs throughout my career as a reporter, I have noticed that except for the disclosure of the names of private companies with which a public official is connected, almost everything else in the SALN is OPAQUE.
For instance, when they mention ownership of agricultural, commercial or residential land or houses, I do believe they should give the address and, if a condo unit, the name of the building.
In addition, lawmakers should also detail their corporate stocks whenever they own these, so that their voting or statements affecting corporations can be compared to their portfolios.
The point of a SALN is to discourage those in government from being tempted to acquire ill-gotten wealth.
Previous Supreme Court decisions have already established that if an asset is not in the SALN, then that can already be considered ill-gotten.
Some lawmakers have in the past told me that restricting access to SALNs was meant to protect government officials from blackmail, kidnapping, or extortion.
I’m sure lawmakers can deal with this sort of thing, given their political clout.
All lawmakers, all Supreme Court Justices, the President and his entire Cabinet, the Vice-President, and the police and military top brass should all disclose their SALN online. If they have nothing to hide, what would be wrong with that? OK, they can block off the address of their main house of residence, but everything else – especially real property investments should be disclosed.
The rest of the government officials could be made to disclose their SALN using an easy process open to all legitimate anti-corruption watchdog groups and journalists whether traditional or online. To make the process even easier, requests and releases could be done online, so long as the requesting party’s identity has been verified.
I don’t even mind if the government charges for this using PAYPAL or some other way of charging. I mean, this would be easier than traveling in person to Congress or all those offices. I remember that when I obtained the SALN of various senators, the xerox charge per page was higher than usual.
Am I dreaming?
Yes.
But let me share with you something I’ve just learned.
Early last year I kept seeing on FAcebook this demand: “Impeach the Supreme Court Chief Justice…”
They must be dreaming, I thought.
I wasn’t wrong. Because they kept dreaming they could do it and they did something about it, it came to pass. Today the Chief Justice has been impeached and this Monday he will stand trial.
So let me go on dreaming about this and many many more things about our country :)
JiroArturo says
You think Senators Estrada, Santiago, Diokno, Trillanes, Lapid, the Cayatanos, etc will ever disclosed their SALN ever? You (Raissa) and I will have to dream for a very very very long time.
raissa says
Actually, as I said, senators’ SALNs are the easiest to obtain.
I have some from several years back.
JiroArturo says
Are said Senators using fair market value to arrive to networth? I don’t think Corona is being charge by using Fair Market Value to compute his networth. Parang ang kaso niya ay non declaration, misdeclaration at inaccuracy ng SALN niya. Am I right Raissa?
nonon says
ms raissa can make an article regarding cong. labadlabad, 2nd district of zamboanga del norte, he is one of the expats that live a comfortable life in the united states being self made millionare but choose to run as a representative in his district when the dual citizenship law allowed him to run. his pork barrel sponsored projects are almost half the price of the more traditional politician in the province maybe even the country.
Mel says
WITH Raïssa’s appeal, “Will all the rest please follow” as a follow up to Congress ‘The Man’ Teddy Casiño’s disclosure of his own SALN.
Today, “The Supreme Court has ordered justices from the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, as well as lower-court judges and court personnel, to comment on the issue on the disclosure of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth, or SALN.“
They all have been given 15 days to prepare their comments.
This directive was to the Philippine Judges Association, Metropolitan Trial Court Judges Association of the Philippines, Philippine Trial Judges League, Philippine Women Judges Association, and Association of Court Personnel of the Philippines.
BUT High Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez didn’t include the Supreme Court as part of the directive.
“[T]he alleged non-submission of his SALN is among the grounds cited by the House prosecution team in impeaching Chief Justice Renato Corona.”
I guess they can share or submit their comments here too.
It will be easier for Raïssa Robles and her avid readers to get their first hand post/comment.
Kung comment lang, dito lang! It doesn’t take that long to ‘comment’, right?
REY NATHANIEL IFURUNG says
Raissa I fully agree. I thought we can always request a copy of the SALN being a public document for legal purpose. What we can do is if there is an government official with unexplained wealth (luxury house, lots, condos, vehicles, signature bags, shoes, and watches, foreign travels, exclusive schools of children, mistresses/kabits, it should be reported to the Ombudsman and monitor the investigation.
raissa says
From my experience, hard to do except in the Senate.
1320 says
I never liked Mr. Casiño’s brand of politics, but he’s one of the very few people who deserve a seat in Congress. Love or hate him, he’s remained consistent in his views, something that can’t be said of his fellow lawmakers. We’d be better off if all people in government were like him.
nick kramer says
Rep. Ted for President, nuff said!!!
wil15 says
Hi Raissa,
This is out of topic. If it is not too much to ask, could you please do an investigative reporting on the latest controversy involving the Supreme Court? I’ve just read a news item regarding the 8.6 million pesos that the World Bank is asking SC to return. I believe this will open a can of worms.
When it rain it pours.
Thanks
wil15 says
Raissa,
I miss two words in the last sentence of 1st paragraph. It should read: I believe this will open MORE THAN a can of worms. This is what you get when you post comments and cook food for your family at the same time.
Thanks again.
raissa says
I’ll try.
Ang dami!
letlet says
I will give Teddy Casino the benefit of the doubt when he says his SALN is a true declaration of his assets, liabilities and net worths for the simple reason that he is an aktibista. Mabuhay ka. Here is a politician who is the embodiment and of exacting standards – makamasang values,i deology ( for the people and by the people),top bottom morality – of what we filipinos are looking for to lead our country. Most Filipinos are becoming cynical of our politicians – on why they entered politics, who at the end of the day, they become filthy rich- that when an honest and makamasang politician comes forthwith, we can’t still believe that he is as such. We are looking for a needle in the hay of his totality of his politics. To Mr Casino if you say you are what you are, then may your tribe increase to rule our country. I would like to see Philippines in the like of Singapore if not Japan.
yon-p says
iba itong copy sa nai-publish na una (sa itaas).
pansinin nyo po ang mga dates sa page 2 ng un-notarized at notarized na SALN.
at ang stamped dates ng house records section. magkaibang taon sila.
yung sa supposedly notarized ay july 2010.
ang nasa unang na-publish ay april 2011.
ano po yun? inuulit lang?
pasensya na po kung nagiging mabusisi.
Ed says
Hindi ko makuha yung ibig mong sabihin. Paki linaw po?
yon-p says
yung binigay nyo pong link ng image ng notarized SALN ay mas luma, submitted ni cong ted noong july 2010 pa. ang naka publish dito sa site ni mam raissa, na hindi notarized, ay dated april 2011. bukod sa mga sinulat o naka-type, pansinin nyo rin po ang mga pagkakaiba ng stamped markings.
mat says
motorcycle… real properties?
Ed says
It should be in the personal property section.
What is important, it was declared.
Battousai says
declaring is easy. what important is the credibility of what was declared. sa kasawiang palad, wala atang politiko sa ating bansa ang mga “credibility”. no exclusion.
Ed says
is Teddy Casino a politiko?
please cite an example of Casino’s uncredible deeds re: SALN
Teddy says
Hi to all and thanks for your feedback.
First thing’s first, my SALN is accurate and truthful. I don’t own the house I live in, I don’t own the Isuzu AUV (not SUV) that I use. Aside from a piece of agricultural land in faraway Infanta that my father bought and said he’d put in my name, I don’t have any real property. Don’t own any jewelry (not even a watch, my mobile phone has its own clock anyway). Never had my own business, don’t own stocks. Simpleng aktibista lang po since my student days, earning just enough to continue with my advocacies.
As Congressman I take home something like P75T a month. That takes care of all the bills plus the kids and wife’s education (Ruth takes up law in San Beda). I also share part of my income to support some of my full time activist friends.
As to personal assets, I admit putting my ref and aircon was strange, but those were the only significantly valuable things in the house that I could report. My iPad and Mac were office supplied. I didn’t report anymore stuff that cost less than P5,000, including clothes, kitchen utensils, the old washing machine or second-hand TV, etc. Btw, an accountant just advised me that these things are usually not reported as personal assets.
As regards money in bank, well, at the time of the SALN’s filing its most likely that I had zero balance. My bank account is more like a parking space for my salary. It comes and it goes. I have an office account named after me but the money there is used for office operations and not mine.
I agree with Raissa, the SALN form is opaque and subject to misreporting. This was probably deliberate due to concerns about privacy (which I don’t agree with). In any case, the SALN as it is now is still usefull. There are many ways to counter check the data. What is important is that we can see at a glance what is declared and what is not.
raissa says
FOR THE INFORMATION OF EVERYONE:
This one FROM CONGRESSMAN TEODORO CASINO, arrived this morning.
But since I was chasing a deadline – a profile on CJ Corona for my newspaper SCMP, I didn’t notice.
Sorry for that.
Raissa
Ed says
I wonder why others could not or would not comprehend or believe the status of teddy casino.
Johnny lin says
Kasi manhid na tayo sa kasinungalingan ng pultiko lalo na yung nasa itaas.
Arsenio Reyes says
Baltazar :
The loan is not cash, it is a liability. He spent the cash already.
Actually, 100% accuracy cannot be expected, fairness in reporting is enough. You are correct in that estimates are acceptable. Government land valuation is certainly low, no problem about that since normally it should be the cost of the purchaser that should be reflected in the SALN. But once the property is sold, then the selling price should be truthfully reported so that proper taxes can be imposed.
I believe Congressman Teddy is not corrupt and is a good person. But as suggested some guidelines in preparation are in order and more important the SALN is useless unless verified and audited vs. lifestyle as a matter of control of possible corrupt activities.
Arsenio Reyes says
Yes I believe you Sir, whatever you say. It’s just the SALN perhaps may need some proper reporting format modification and corresponding guidelines in order not to be misleading.
Yes, it need not be 100% accurate, estimates are allowed. The rule is fairness and material disclosures.
Finally, I believe you’re honest.
vilma bierras says
Ako nanniniwala ako ke congressman Teddy dahil sa ilang taon nyang panunungkulan never syang nainvolve sa anumang kaso na namumuwalan sa kayamanan.Kung marami pa ang katulad nya mas maraming magiging mata at tututol sa mga kurakot ng bayan.Mabuhay ka and GOD bless
Arjay says
i used to be a supporter of the LFS but I was never became member of any group during the time of Lean Alejandro, I really admire people like you Congressman Ted…..hope you keep it up….
boy kiamko says
not all dreams may come true…but there are dreams that come true…so let’s all dream that sooner, this country will rid itself of corrupt officials…let your number ms raissa multiply !!!
jorel says
AGREE!!!!
josephleyson says
you can tell that rep.casino is simple and humble by his looks. the character of a man is being reflected by his countenance.look at those faces of corrupt officials? you can tell by their faces that they are corrupt.look at carefully the faces of those officials with allegations of corruptions in their records,they look shady.the shadow of satan is being reflected in their faces. study careflully the faces of mike arroyo.gloria arroyo, corona.,estrada during his presidency,gen reyes,gen ligot, gen garcia,garcillano, abalos,horn,emelda . topacio ,ampatuan especially the father they all have resemblance from each other
Ezer Tiongson says
Greetings Raissa, I would like to dedicate this poem to you. Your excellent in journalism inspires me wrote it. Regards and Good luck and have fun on monday. Have a nice weekend!
CORONA(NG) TINIK
Tic..tic..tic..Coronang tinik
Kapangyarihan mo’y malapit nang tumahimik.
Puot ng bayan sa iyo’y hahagitik.
Sa sukdulan mong pagiging switik
Nakaw na pera ng bayan nawa’y ibalik..
Tic..tic..tic.. Coronang tinik
Sa Lunes na kami’y nasasabik.
Sa iyong pagiging tahimik,
exited na kaming malaman ang lahat ng ari-ariang mong “magic”
Handa na ang madla sa pagkatay sa maamong biik.
Tic..tic..tic.coronang tinik …sabi nga ni Didith ..kami’y nananabik……
Ms. Raissa this poem dedicated to you, for your excelent in journalism..Idol!!!
raissa says
Thank you, Ezer :)
Bow.
Edgar says
Can I borrow your poem? share ko lang sa FB wall ko for ll my family and friends to see. Don’t worry.. as always, will be mentioning stolen from Raissas blog site and created by Ezer Tiongson. :)
Ezer Tiongson says
no problem mga kapatid.. this will spread ate raissa’s blog
Ezer Tiongson says
I forgot Ate Raissa. meron bang anomalya sa RORO project. alam ko coROna-arROyo ito. diba? thanks.
raissa says
LOL
Ezer Tiongson says
For You Ate Raissa, for Monday
CORRONA NI ARROYO
by: Ezer Tiongson
RO,RO,RO, coROna ng mga arROyo…
Binabayo na sa senado
punong hustisyang laging pabor sa mga Arroyo
wag pasisisguro nagmamasid ang buong mundo.
RO,RO,RO, coROna ng mga arROyo…
Magpa-nobena kaman o mag-anuyo
Isa ka pa ring sinaunang Pariseo
Hugas kamay sa mga kurakot mo sa gobyerno.
RO,RO,RO, coROna ni gloria arROyo…
Susunod na ang paglilitis sa iyo
mag-isip ka na ng kasinungalinan mo
sa mga kurakot at pandaraya mong pinatakbo.
RO,RO,RO, coROna ni gloria arROyo…
sa dami ng “extradition treaty” na binanggit mo
nabulilyaso tuloy ang hangad mong TRO.
sakit-sakitang ginawa mo, di na kinagat ng mga tao
RO,RO,RO, mga coROna at mga arROyo…
Nasaan na ang reyna mong amo?
narito ang Corona mo, sa kalaboso magkita kayo
Isama na rin ang mga asawa’t mga anak ninyo.
RO,RO,RO, mga coROna at mga arROyo…
Huwag tularan ang mga ito
matauhan kayong mga “corrupt” sa gobyerno!
dahil na rin sa dalawang ito…….
napalakas tuloy si PNoy sa paninigarilyo.
RO,RO,RO, di biro ang ang mga nagyayaring ito,
pagbutihan nyo’ nga nakatalagang mga abogado
sa pagi-impeach kina corona at arroyo.
para mapaayos ang hustisya at gobyerno.
Ro-Ro-Ro.. Lets Roll-on -to good governance and
Roll-off -to all the corruption!
FYI:
RO-RO is a P15-Billion French government-backed consortium Eiffel Matiere. The controversial
Greater Maritime Access Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) project. The GMA ports project involves the
construction of 72 Ro-Ro ports around the country. This was one of several big-ticket deals
approved by the previous administration, only to be later found with questionable provisions and ?
$?$?, etc..etc…..
Thanks for reading! please visit raisarobles.com for true journalism.
raissa says
LOL.
thanks!
Baltazar says
@Ezer,
Kakaloka ang ang tula mo he he :-) …me kanta rin kaya si Didith Reyes na …”Bakit ako mahihiya” LOLs
Ezer Tiongson says
oo, naman pareng baltazar, meron din. yan ata ang national anthem na kakatahin sa opening ng ipeachment sa lunes ha…ha..ha.
Ezer Tiongson says
oo pareng baltazar me kanta rin si didith reyes na bakit ako mahihiya. Ito ata ang gagwing paunang kanta sa opening ng impeachment sa lunes. LOL! he..he..hr
Alex Agustin says
Pahiram din….
Rowena Botsayu says
pa share din ha lagay q lang sa wall ng facebook q
glenn barcelona says
LOL. Nice piece!!
Phil Manila says
“…almost everything else in the SALN is OPAQUE.”
I believe there is a Civil Service Commission regulation that mandates the submission of a ‘Base Filing’ SALN every so often, every five years, if I remember.
Such base SALN requires much more details.
raissa says
Thanks for spilling that one out.
First time I’ve heard that.