Ex-Defense Chief: Release ITRs, Not Just SALNs To The Public

Should he win as country’s the next president in May, former defense secretary Norberto Gonzales plans to make public the income tax returns (ITRs) of all Filipinos, similar to the practice of other countries.

Asked whether public officials should release their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth and willingly sign a waiver to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 1405 or The Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law of 1955 during the Sonshine Media International Network (SMNI) presidential debates held at Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Feb. 15, Gonzales answered in the affirmative.

“OK lang na ilabas ‘yan, pero alam mo, siguro dagdagan pa natin ng kaunti kasi meron akong nalalaman sa ibang bansa, hindi lang mga SALN, published ang lahat ng income tax returns ng buong sambayanan,” he said.

Asked further if he will submit his family members to sign a waiver to the provisions of RA 1405, Gonzales also replied in the affirmative.

“Of course, buong Pilipinas nga gusto kong gumawa niyan eh. Dapat open tayo kung ano ‘yung hinahawakan natin para na rin sa ganun walang duda at mas mabilis ang pagkolekta ng taxes na tama (I want the whole of the Philippines to do that. We should be open to whatever possessions we have so there will be no doubts, and for faster collection of taxes as well),” Gonzales said.

Petitions for the disqualification of another presidential candidate, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., were filed before the Commission on Elections because he was convicted of failure to file ITRs for four years.

During the debate, former presidential spokesman and foreign affairs official Ernesto Abella and labor leader Leody de Guzman and Marcos also said they are willing to release their SALNs. Under RA 6713, public officials are required to file their SALNs for transparency.

“Wala pong problema sa akin (It’s not a problem with me), I’ll just comply. There’s no question about it,” Abella said.

De Guzman also said: “Dapat lang na ilabas ‘yang SALN. Walang problema sa akin na ilabas ‘yang SALN at gawing publiko.”

Marcos also agreed that SALNs must be made public. “Kung ako’y mapalad sa darating na halalan, natural ay gagawa ng SALN at ito ay ibibigay ko sa publiko pag hihingin sa akin,” he noted.

Marcos previously stated that SALNs should not be released especially if it would be used for politics, citing the case of ousted chief justice Renato Corona. He later retracted, saying that he was willing to make his SALNs public.

The former senator said there is no need to change present rules regarding the release of SALNs.

“Sa aking palagay ay hindi na kailangan palitan ang batas at nasa sa bawat opisyal na ‘yan kung sila ba ay handang ilabas ang kanilang SALN. Kung may kaso na court order na sasabihin na ilabas ang SALN, kailangan talaga ibigay (For me, there’s no need to amend the law and it’s up to the officials if they are willing to publicize their SALNs. If there is a court order that states they need to release them, they should do so),” Marcos added.

To recall, Ombudsman Samuel Martires issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 in September 2020, which limits the access of an interested individual or group to a public official’s SALNs.