MANILA – The office of the Philippine Ombudsman has tightened its rules on access and release of vital documents, which drew vehement protests from media and even lawmakers identified with the Arroyo administration.
In a memorandum circular, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez issued a new set of rules that tended to make it more difficult for the public to secure documents from her office, particularly the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (Saln) submitted by public officials as required by law.
What made the order even more controversial was that although Gutierrez signed the order on June 19, its existence was only revealed this week when certain parties tried to obtain the Salns of officials who were not, however, identified.
Before, representatives of concerned sectors, like the media, could secure copies of the Saln by just presenting a simple request to the office of the Ombudsman, the main repository of such document.
But suddenly the rules have been changed by Gutierrez which, among others, now require the submission of a sworn statement before a prosecutor of the Ombudsman which states the reasons for the request.
Gutierrez justified the order, saying it aims mainly to “protect the integrity of the document†as well as to ensure that “it will not be used for harassment.â€
But media, other concerned sectors and lawmakers, led by administration Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, assailed the order, pointing out it is illegal because violates the right of the public to information as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.
Moreover, they insisted that Gutierrez issued the order to protect the interests of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and immediate members of her family following allegations that they have enriched themselves while in office.
Gutierrez herself is the subject of an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives for allegedly sitting down on graft and similar criminal charges filed against members of the President’s family, particularly her husband lawyer Jose Miguel “Mike†Arroyo, as well as their cronies.
It is public knowledge that Gutierrez was a classmate of Mike in one of the law schools in Metro Manila.
Recently, it was revealed, based on their Salns obtained from the office of the Ombudsman, that the two lawmaker-sons of President Arroyo had purchased houses in California.
The eldest son, Congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey†Arroyo of Pampanga province in Central Luzon, was confirmed to have purchased for $1.32 million a beachfront three-storey house along the San Francisco Bay in Foster City, California.
On the other hand, Congressman Diosdado “Dato†Arroyo of Camarines Sur province in the Bicol Region later admitted that he and his wife also bought for $750,000 a condominium unit located at the exclusive Hillsborough district in downtown San Francisco.
The investigative report disclosed that the Arroyo brothers bought their houses shortly after their election as members of the House of Representatives.
In particular, Mikey defended his purchase of the house as he stressed that his family has the financial capability to do so.
He also defended in a television interview that based on his Saln, he became richer while as a lawmaker due the gifts he and his wife had received during their wedding as well as the campaign contributions he received when he ran for congressman.
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