Sen. Migz Zubiri Issues Caution over Disclosure of SALN by Public Officials
MIGZ ZUBIRI – The Senator spoke on the disclosure of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN amid the order of President Bongbong Marcos for a “lifestyle check” among the public officials.
The heated issue over the anomalous flood control projects of the government in several areas across the nation has led to the “lifestyle check” order by Pres. Bongbong Marcos among all government officials. According to Malacañang, the said lifestyle check will first be implemented among the officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Marcos Jr. found several “ghost” and substandard flood control projects in the different areas across the nation. In Bulacan alone, the President found an over P55-million ‘ghost’ Riverwall project as well as another flood control project that was incomplete and made of substandard materials.
According to Marcos Jr., they hired divers to check on the said flood control project and they found that the cement was too thin. The President called out St. Timothy Construction to explain what happened to the project. It is one of the 15 contractors flagged by the President to have been awarded with 20% of the P545-billion worth government flood control deals from July 2022 to May 2025.
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
Amid the flood control issue, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan resigned from his position. His resignation was accepted by Marcos Jr.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte agrees with the “lifestyle check” order of Marcos Jr. However, according to her, the investigation should not be shallow and should not settle with just the disclosure of the SALN. She hopes that the probe will reveal the “dummies” who cover the assets of the politicians.
Malacañang announced that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is ready to disclose his SALN as part of the “lifestyle check” order among the government officials. It came after Sen. Risa Hontiveros issued a challenge saying that it will be a good example if the President will issue his SALN.
However, amid the “lifestyle check” order among the government officials. Sen. Migz Zubiri who is also part of the Senate Minority Bloc like Hontiveros issued a warning. He hopes that the SALN will not be used as a weapon against the government officials.
“The SALN is a public document, we submit it to the Ombudsman, we also submit it to our agencies of government. Pero I just want to caution na ‘wag sanang gamitin ang SALN as a weapon against politicians,” Sen. Migz Zubiri said.
According to Sen. Migz Zubiri, the government officials should be wary about the people who might use the SALN as a weapon citing alleged cases in the Ombudsman. He claimed that there are government officials who allegedly do not know how to prepare their SALN properly and it might be used against them.
“We can release our SALN, especially if we have nothing to hide. But at the same time, let’s also be wary of people using it to weaponize and use it against these politicians pagdating sa halalan dahil may mga kaso na po sila sa Ombudsman,” the Senator said.
Meanwhile, Zubiri clarified that he is for transparency and he supports the order of Marcos Jr. Previously, amid the doubts on their relationship now after she sided with the Duterte family, presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos spoke on the “lifestyle check” order of her brother, Pres. Bongbong Marcos.