EDUCATIONAL institutions under the De La Salle Philippines denounced Ombudsman Samuel Martires for denying public access to the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth of President Rodrigo Duterte.

It maintained that the public’s right to information should be “respected and protected.”

The DLSP was reacting to Martires’ push for tougher penalties, including imprisonment of five years, on anyone who would comment on the SALN of government officials and employees, claiming that these “public documents were being weaponized to destroy people’s reputations.”

“We underscore the pursuit of truth, which demands transparency and accountability in public service. We believe that our right to information should be respected, protected, and generally remain unbridled. An informed public lead to an engaged citizenry,” DLSP said.

It also decried President Rodrigo Duterte’s attack on the Commission on Audit after the agency tagged the use of pandemic funds by the Department of Health.

“We are aghast at the insults and intimidation that the President has hurled against members of a co-equal branch who are investigating an allegedly corruption-riddled transaction,” the DLSP said in a statement.

“The President has unjustly railed against an independent constitutional body that is required to assess the efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of all national and local government agencies, the Commission on Audit,” it added.

It urged Congress to continue investigating all transactions of the Executive branch and called on the youth to unite in upholding the truth, and to keep the passion in seeking it “for social justice, human dignity, and the respect for democratic rights.”