THE听PRESIDENTIAL听palace on Monday听said it would leave to听the Ombudsman the decision on whether听it would听release to the public President Rodrigo R. Duterte鈥檚 net worth听statement.听

Presidential听spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr.听issued听the statement after Vice-President Maria Leonor听鈥淟eni鈥澨鼼. Robredo challenged the President to disclose his net worth.听

鈥淭he stance of the Office of the President has been clear and consistent:听 We leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman,鈥 he said.听

Mr.听Duterte听had not听disclosed听his net worth despite his vow of transparency, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism听reported last year.听

Since the law requiring public officials to disclose their net worth was enacted in 1989, all five presidents before Mr. Duterte had disclosed their worth听year on year without fail,听it said.听

Under a memo issued by the Ombudsman in September, an official鈥檚 net worth report can only be released to his authorized representative or upon a court order related to a case.听

The Ombudsman order also excluded听journalists from obtaining copies of the statements.听鈥 KATA听

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