Jun 182013
 
The Supreme Court has approved the request of GMA News and Solar News to obtain copies of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of the high court’s justices.

At a press briefing in Manila, Public Information Office chief Theodore Te said the request of GMA News reporter Lia Manalac and Solar News reporter Anjo Alimario were granted by the high court sitting in full court.

“After having complied… the clerk of court recommended the approval of the request subject to condition [payment of fees],” Te said.

Meanwhile, TV5 reporter Marlene Alcaide’s request was “deferred” pending the submission of additional requirements.

Alcaide was requested to “state as clearly as possible the purpose of her request, the interest ought to be served.”

Te said “if public concern is cited, she need to justify how the request can serve public interest.” Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News

May 062013
 
Graft raps filed vs. Loren Legarda over misdeclared assets

Self-proclaimed “anti-corruption crusader” Louis Biraogo on Monday filed a complaint against re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda for allegedly misdeclaring her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The case was in connection with the posh residential condominium unit that Legarda bought in New York in 2006 for $700,000. “Eto po ay napaka-expensive, mahal na property, na hindi kaya ng ordinaryong tao dito sa ating bansa. Ito ay binili ni Sen. Loren Legarda noong 2006 sa halagang $700,000,” Biraogo said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” Legarda, who is running under the administration coalition, was accused of violating the anti-graft law and code of conduct and ethical standards of public officials, the report said. At a press briefing last week, Legarda said the property, which she said is family-owned, has been in her SALN since 2007 but declared as “Equity in Real Property.” The price of the unit as reflected in her SALN was $7.1 million, supposedly her share in purchasing the property. But in filing the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, Biraogo presented to the media the title for the condominum unit showing that Legarda is the sole owner of the property. “Eto yung titulo, at sa titulo po ang buyer ay si Sen. Loren Legarda. Walang nakalagay na kapatid nya o asawa nya,” he said. Legarda was among the senators who voted in favor of ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona last year for misdeclaring his SALN. Legarda, who continues to top surveys Read More …