“We note the call for a lifestyle check of public officials. There are, however, requirements under existing laws, such as the Anti-Graft Law (RA No. 3019) & the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Government Officials & Employees (RA No. 6713) before such check can be lawfully conducted. This is in line with the Constitution’s guarantee to due process of law,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. told GMA News Online.
He issued the statement after militant lawmakers called on President Benigno Aquino III to order a lifestyle check on all government officials, including allies, tagged in the scam to determine whether they benefited from the multibillion-peso fraud.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, the House member with the 12th lowest net worth in 2013, said the Cabinet secretaries tagged in the controversy should also allow government agencies to look into their bank accounts to prove they did not amass ill-gotten wealth.
Coloma, however, said the administration has “consistently advocated openness, transparency and accountability of public officials.”
“In line with this advocacy, the SALNs (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) of the President and Cabinet members have been released and made available to the public,” he said.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who are close political allies of the President, have been listed as pork scam conspirators or beneficiaries by alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
According to their respective SALNs, Alcala is the 11th wealthiest out of 34 Cabinet officials while Abad is 16th.
Aquino, however, has repeatedly stood by the two and said he doubts the testimony of Napoles.
Abad also said Napoles is probably implicating administration allies because she wants to pressure Aquino into granting her immunity. —KBK/JL, GMA News
