By Jennylou Canon

PHOTO: Manila Bulletin

Vice President Leni Robredo asked President Rodrigo Duterte to show his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) to signify his seriousness in combating government corruption.

In her weekly radio show with Ely Saludar, Robredo said that SALNs are proof that there is transparency as well as a fight to stop corruption.

“‘Yung mandato ng VP succession lang…. Pero ‘yung sa akin lang, Ka Ely, ang daming ibang paraan para ipakita mo na anti-corruption ka. ‘Yung SALN, isa 'yun sa isang [paraan] para ipakita mo na bukas, bukas ‘yung lahat ng information, para sa akin, pagpapakita na walang korapsyon,” Robredo said.

Robredo also said that the Office of the President must initiate the fight against corruption.

“‘Yung pinakaimportanteng office para at least mabawasan yung korapsyon ‘yung Office of the President. Ako kasi, ano Ka Ely, kung naalala natin, kay PNoy noon, ang daming mga bagong mga in-introduce para mabawasan yung korapsyon. Hindi completely nawala, pero at least yung sistema in place,” she said.



The vice president also stood with the Commission on Audit (COA), saying that COA was made a constitutional body to prevent other government agencies from meddling in its affairs.

“Pero ‘yung pag-audit, Ka Ely, nakalagay ‘yan sa isang constitutional body. Bakit nakalagay ‘yan sa isang constitutional body? Para may independence, hindi napapakailamanan ng ibang branches of government,” Robredo said.

The COA has been receiving backlash from Duterte after releasing its annual reports where their findings showed huge amounts of misused funds intended to aid the COVID-19 response in the country.

Duterte earlier made a statement that once he gets elected as vice president in the 2022 elections, he will personally audit financial statements of government agencies, starting with himself.


Report source: Rappler