According to Sen. Francis Escudero, what Gutierrez did was illegal. In his statement, Escudero said that "it's illegal as it hinders or hampers free flow and access to information on matters of public concern. Confidentiality is the anti-thesis of 'public document.' Besides the Ombudsman is not vanguard but the keeper of the SALN so that the public can have better access to it."
June 16, 2009, Gutierrez issued Memorandum Circular No.1 that would require people who would want access to SALNs to provide a statement why they are doing so, two government-issued IDs and be sworn in before a prosecutor of the supposed anti-graft institution. Furthermore, as if to add insult to the injury, the public and media can be immediately denied access to SALNs if their reason is deemed "contrary to morals or public policy, or is commercial in nature other than by news and communication media for dissemination to the general public."
Blogger Carlo Ople posed this question: Instead of defending the Filipino people, the office of the Ombudsman would rather shield corrupt officials from getting exposed?
We all know how Rep. Mikey's corruption was exposed through his SALN during Philippine TV's shining moment that is the grilling of Arroyo by Prof. Winnie Monsod. We need more of these. More corrupt government officials getting exposed. And if they can't be transparent through their SALNs clearly they are hiding something. So why Ms. Ombudsman are you protecting them by imposing more rules?
We need transparency and accountability from our public officials, and if they are incapable of being so, they have no business in serving Filipinos.
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