Ombudsman to House: Release solons’ SALNs this week or face contempt
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has issued a "fair warning" to the House of Representatives, stating that Secretary General Cheloy Garafil could be cited in contempt if the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of certain lawmakers are not produced this week. Remulla expressed frustration over the delay, accusing Garafil of avoiding the request, while Garafil maintained there was no intention to disregard the Ombudsman's official communication.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla issued a stern warning to House of Representatives Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil on April 6, 2026, threatening to cite her for contempt, suspend her, or even remove her from office if she continues to defy subpoenas demanding the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of certain lawmakers. The confrontation stems from the House's repeated refusal to accept subpoenas for SALNs covering the past decade of lawmakers' terms, which are critical to the Ombudsman's investigation into plunder allegations involving several congressmen and House members who served during the speakership of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez from 2022 to 2025. Remulla expressed frustration that House security personnel had barred Ombudsman personnel from delivering the subpoena, calling this a disrespect to his office.
According to Remulla, the House has been citing the need for plenary approval as justification for not releasing the SALNs, but he emphasized that this is not a valid reason to ignore official subpoenas. The Ombudsman's office is specifically seeking SALNs related to an ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects, with subpoenas also targeting deputy secretary general Sofia Gabon. Remulla gave the House a one-week deadline to comply, stating unequivocally: "Do not do this again. We will cite you for contempt, and we will suspend you, if not remove you from office. Hindi kami papayag na balewalain nila ang Office of the Ombudsman."
In response, Secretary General Garafil maintained that she has no intention to disrespect the Office of the Ombudsman, though she did not indicate whether she would comply with the subpoena. The standoff represents a significant constitutional clash between two branches of government, with the Ombudsman asserting its investigative authority and the House asserting its institutional independence and internal procedures regarding document release.
In a related development, Remulla agreed to provide Vice President Sara Duterte's SALNs covering multiple periods (2007-2013, 2016-2022, 2022-2025) to the House Justice Committee, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on April 14, 2026. This compliance with the House's own subpoena for Duterte's SALNs creates an interesting contrast with the House's refusal to provide lawmakers' SALNs to the Ombudsman. The situation remains unresolved as of the latest reports, with potential constitutional implications regarding the balance of power between the legislative branch and the independent constitutional office of the Ombudsman.
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