THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) has expressed its readiness to undergo a lifestyle check if ordered by the Office of the President, though Vice President Sara Duterte herself has yet to release a personal statement on the matter.
The declaration comes amid heightened scrutiny of government officials following corruption allegations in infrastructure projects under the Marcos administration.
Speaking to reporters during a tree-planting event on Friday, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo said that officials and employees of the office are prepared to comply with such investigations.
“As we have always been, the Office of the Vice President is mindful of the constitutional provision that public office is a public trust, and that public officials are expected to live modest lives. If the President orders it, all civil servants must comply,” Castelo said.
Asked if the vice president herself was ready to undergo a lifestyle check, Castelo explained that proper mechanisms exist for requesting a Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
“If asked to produce the SALN, there is a procedure for that. Once required to submit, that is the process to follow,” she added.
Earlier, in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Vice President Duterte welcomed President Marcos Jr.’s directive for government officials to undergo lifestyle checks, particularly in light of corruption allegations tied to flood control projects.