The Ombudsman will reopen the public access to the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of public government officials, according to a statement from the agency on Tuesday, October 14.

“This decision is guided by a simple principle: the public has a legitimate right to know how those in government acquire and manage their wealth,” the Ombudsman’s statement read. “Transparency in this area is not a slogan—it is a safeguard against corruption and a deterrent ot abuse of power.”

At a time when trust is put to the test, the Ombudsman emphasized that “transparency is the name of the game,” adding that the best way to rebuild confidence amongst institutions is to establish openness backed by concrete access to information.

“The office also calls on all agencies that keep official copies of SALNs—the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the President, Congress, the Judiciary, and local government units—to align their practices with this policy,” the statement read.

In doing so, the agency reminded that consistency across institutions would be important, as the practice of “selective transparency” would only breed suspicion.

“This step is not about politics—it is about accountability. The public deserves proof, not promises, that integrity still has a place in public service,” it ended.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla previously announced that he would release a memorandum lifting the restrictions on SALNs, including guidelines on how to request the now-public documents.