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Republic of the Philippines Ie ~LePiL,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ; :
Quezon City, Metro Manila it eG
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Sixteenth Congress
Firat Regular Session

House Bill No.

3347

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representatives
Ibarra “Barry” M. Gutierrez III and Walden F. Bello

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pursuant to Constitutional principle that public office is a public trust, and the
corresponding declaration that all public officers and employees are at all times
accountable to the people, Section 17, Article XI of 1987 Philippine Constitution
mandates that every public officer or employee shall submit a declaration under oath of

his assets, liabilities, and net worth.

‘The Philippine legislature enacted Republic Act No, 3019, otherwise known as the Amt.
Graft and Corrupt Practices Aat, on 17 August 1960. Tt has provisions that require the
mandatory disclosure of all public officials and employees of their finances and financial
interests and is evidence that, as early as 1960, Congress has already recognized that full
transparency on members of the government service is essential against corruption. Even
the Supreme Court, in the case of Morf ns. Mutuc (GR. No. L-20387, 31 January 1968),
recognized and held that RA 3019 “was precisely aimed at curtailing and minimizing the
‘opportunities for official corruption and maintaining a standard of honesty in the public

seevice” “intended to further promote morality in public administration.”

The disclosure requirements in RA 3019 were superseded by those under Republic Act
No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
and Employees, which Vaid down the cules on the mandatory filing by all public officials
and employees of their annual statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (“SALN*).

‘The need to clarify the mules on disclosure of the contents of a SALN and the


corresponding right of the people to access it has come to fore in light of the recent
exposes on corruption issues. The plunder of public funds by unscrupulous public
officers and employees underscores the importance of open and public scrutiny in order

to promote honesty and integrity.
This bill will ensure that the administration’s ‘aid ma daan will be achieved. Tt is an
updated version of House Bill No. 2827 introduced by AKBAYAN Representatives

Walden F. Bello and Kaka J. Bag-ao in the Fifteenth Congress.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

: ZA

IBARRA |. GDTIERREZ II WALDEN F. BELLO


Republi of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
City, Metro Manila

Quezon

th Congress
First Reguiar Session

House Bill No. 3347

Introduced by AKBAYAN Representatives
Ibarra “Barry” M. Gutierrez II] and Walden F. Bello

AN ACT
PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY IN THE.
SERVICE BY ENSURING TO THE STATEMENT
LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH AND THE DISCLOSURE OF BUSINESS.
INTERESTS AND FINANCIAL CONNECTIONS FILED BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS
AND EMPLOYEES, AMENDING FOR THAT PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
6713, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES,” AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

CCE!

s,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled

1 SECTION 1. Shore title—This Act shall be known as the “Silip SALN Act of 2013.”

3 SECTION 2. Declaration of policy.—Pursuant to Secuion 17, Article XI and to Sections 27
4 and 28, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, itis hereby declared a policy of the State to
5 ensure that the public wall have access to the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and
6 Disclosures of Business Interests and Financial Connections filed by public officials and

employees to the end of promoting transparency and integrity in public service

9 SECTION 3. Amendatory provision—Section 8(C) of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise


1 known as the “Code of Condit and Ethical Standards 4

Ofich and Employees.” is hereby

2 amended to read as follows:

3

4 “(©) Accessibility of documents —

6 @Q) Any person shall have the right to inspect, any and all
7 statements filed under this Act: Pronided, Thar hal -be-made
8 available for inspection is made during st resonable office hours:
9 Provided, further, That this right is absolute and may not be denied
10 other reason or on any other round by the
"1 the persons entrusted with the custody of the same as provided in
12 Section 8(A) paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) and 3)

B

iW @) Such statements shall be made available ior copying or

reproduicnon after fen (10) svod f

16 filed as required by law

18 (3) Any person shall have the right io oban requesting a

19 copy of # such statements by giving a request, personally, by mail,
20 c 1s entrusted with the custody of the
a S A) OO.
2 and (5) of this Act and upon shall-be-sequiced-to-pay-s payment
23 ofa reasonable fee to cover the cost of reproduction and mailing
24 of such statement, as well as the cost of certification: Pruided,
25 ‘That the person so requested shall provide the copy of the
26 a i! ive_(5)_workin, 's_from_receipt_of the
s and may no

28 enied or restricted for any other reason or on any other ground
29 by the the persons entrusted with the custody of the same as
30, rovided in Section 8(A) paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) of
3 this Act.

32:

3 (4) Any statement filed under this Act shall be available to the


public for a period of ten (10) years after receapr of the statement

After such period, the statement may be destroyed unless needed

In an ongoing anw

igation,

(3) The persons entrusted with the custody of the staremenis

required to be filed by Section 8(A) parapraphs (1) and

‘Act shall, within thirty (30) calendar days trom 1
statements are filed as required by law, uplo:
websites a copy of such statements: Provided, ‘That such

made available in the website for a period of at least three (3
years from the time they are uploaded.”

SECTION 4. Repealing clause—Any law, presidential decree oF isswuince, executive order,
letter of instruction, administranve mule or regulation conten 16 sstent with the
provisions OF this Aer, particularly those wennsistent proereane st Regi: New No. 213 (ode
of Conduct and Ethical Standards jor Public Officials and Emplnes is bere repealed, moditied or

amended accordingly. Section 8 of RA No. 6713 is amended accordingly

SECTION 5. Separability clause —If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this
Act shall be held unconstitutional, invalid or without any force or effect, other parts or

provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue 10 be 1n full force and effect,
SECTION 6. Effectivity clause—This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the

completion of its publication in the Official Gazelte or in nwo (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,