Rico heads SALNs committee

By JUNE S. BLANCO

(sample photo only)

MEMBERS, officials, employees and staff of the House of Representatives who think they may “do a Corona” got another think coming.

This after Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. issued a special order creating a committee to establish review and compliance procedures relative to the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs).

Corona is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who got impeached because he failed to declare all his assets in his SALN.

The move is pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Belmonte named Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) as head of the special committee, with Reps. Georgidi Aggabao (4th District, Isabela), Tomas Apacible (1st District, Batangas), Rodolfo Antonino (4th District, Nueva Ecija) and Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City).

The order tasks the committee to determine if the SALNs were submitted on time, and if not, inform the reporting individual and direct him/ her to take the necessary corrective action, to render any opinion regarding the SALN Act, subject in each instance to the approval by an affirmative vote of the majority of  the members of the Lower House.

The committee is likewise tasked to formulate such rules and procedures for public access to copies of the SALNs of the members, officials, employees and staff of the Lower House, subject to the approval of the congressmen themselves.

Aumentado accepted the designation and informed Belmonte in a letter that he intends to convene the committee this week.

At the same time, he suggested that the committee secretariat be composed of representatives from various offices in the House of Representatives, with at least one each from the Office of the Secretary General, the Ethics Committee Secretariat, Legal Affairs Department and the Administrative Department who have technical capabilities to effectively assist the committee in accomplishing its mandate.                                                        .