The Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio “Inaki” Zubiri, along with those of two of his close aides, have recently been circulated online, have gained massive attention and have earned the ire of numerous netizens.

A SALN is an annual document that all government workers in the Philippines, whether regular or temporary, must complete and submit attesting under oath. 

The SALNs of Zubiri, who is running for the Bukidnon District 2 congressional seat under the banner of local party Bukidnon Paglaum Party, for years 2016 and 2017 have been placed side by side and have been turned into a social media post. See below:

A closer look of Zubiri’s 2016 SALNs shows that he listed 4 home lots in Maramag as his real properties with a total acquisition cost of Php 750,000. His personal properties, on the other hand, include the following: Cash in bank: Php 800,000.00 Ford Tractor, Fuso 10-wheeler, Six-wheeler, Isuzu 1o-wheeler, Nissan Safari 1999 model, Ford Fiesta, Kia Sorento 2012 model, Pajero 2004 model – total acquisition cost of Php 4,604,000.00 Million making his assets to a total of Php 5,354,000.00 He didn’t list any liabilities. 

Zubiri’s business interests and financial connections include 2 lotto outlets in Malaybalay, Elena Enterprises and Z-Ice (shareholder). 

Zubiri’s 2017 SALN, on the other hand, showed striking similarities. He still listed the same real properties, business interests and still no liabilities but his personal properties were essentially the same. He still had the same amount of cash in bank and only unlisted the Ford Fiesta resulting to assets of a total of Php 4,604,000.00 

This prompted netizens to ask if Zubiri lied on his SALNs. 

“It’s virtually impossible to have the same amount of cash in the bank. Unsa to, wala siya nag-withdraw? Deposit? Anybody na naay bank account kabalo nga naa man na interes ug withholding tax. Wala gyuy movement ang iyahang account? Impossible” asked one.

“Duha ray posibilidad ana. Ang iyang asawa ra nagpakaon sa ilang pamilya sulod sa usa ka tuig kay wala man gyud natarog iyang bank account. Or naa siyay laing account nga wala na-deklara which makes it possible nga he lied sa SALN,” said another. 

Another commenter chimed in that Zubiri may have asked his staff to prepare his SALN and that they may have committed the error. 

“Dili gihapon maayo kay command responsibility na and it is his SALN after all,” said a netizen.

Meanwhile, the SALNs of Zubiri’s executive assistant, Romeo “Meong” Lapeciros, and City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer IV Alan Comiso, also gained attention. The two are frequently seen alongside Zubiri. 

In the case of Comiso, netizens noticed that he listed his Php 2,000,000.00-worth house and lot acquired in 1995 was marked “donation.” He also listed the following under personal properties: cash in bank Php 50,000, business farming, paid rental, motorcycles, and appliances and furniture – total of Php 1,372,400 making his total assets Php 3,372,400.00 His liabilities, totaling Php 1,133,747.84 included personal loans from a bank and loans from two cooperatives, leaving his total assets to Php 2,238,652.16. Netizens were quick to notice that while he only had Php 50,000 in cash in 2017, he acquired large loans.

In the case of Lapeciros, he and his wife filed a joint listing. They listed 2 residential lots and 1 residential house with a total market value of Php 2,565,976.57. Among their personal properties were motor vehicles (unspecified), furniture, antiques, appliances, electronic gadgets, jewelry, receivables and cash on hand totaling Php 2,938,302.75. Lapeciros’ assets Php 5,504.279.32 less liabilities (housing loan, car loan, various loans totaling Php 1,897,719) and this means their total assets in 2017: Php 3,606,560.32 Lapeciros’ wife works at the Department of Education in Malaybalay City.

A SALN is a declaration of assets (i.e., land, vehicles, etc) and liabilities (i.e., loans, debts, etc), including business and financial interests, of an official/employee, of his or her spouse, and of his or her unmarried children under 18 years old still living in their parents’ households. The submission of a SALN is required by law under Article XI Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713, the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” It includes a waiver authorizing the Ombudsman or his authorized representatives to attain documents that may show assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests, and financial connections from all appropriate government agencies.

A SALN is a public document that must be available for inspection and copying by 10 days after it has been filed and is available to the public for at least 10 years. 

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, dishonesty in filing warrants punishment that ranges from suspension to dismissal from service to forfeiture of unexplained or ill-gotten wealth.

Zubiri is facing Atty. John Flores for the Bukidnon District 2 congressional seat this May 13, 2019 elections. Flores, the provincial PDP LABAN chairman and the son of Malaybalay mayoralty candidate Doc Boy Flores, was endorsed by both President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte.

The Flores versus Zubiri faceoff is heavily considered as a “David vs Goliath” fight. Flores, a young lawyer who worked as his father’s legal and political officer for 9 years, quickly gained support after winning in several informal surveys and getting the support of PDP LABAN, Duterte’s official party.