In August 2017, a controversy appeared to reinforce the apprehension harbored by some regarding the possibility of a harmonious coexistence between the two advocacies. The release by the Malacañang Records Office of copies of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs)⁵¹ of 28 Cabinet members to a group of journalists sparked an uproar after a significant amount of information were redacted, citing the data privacy law as basis.⁵² Most prominent among the protesters was the Right to Know Right Now Coalition, a network of FOI advocates, who argued that only the declarant’s address should be redacted for security purposes, consistent with Civil Service Commission rules.⁵³ Called to comment on the issue, NPC Deputy Privacy Commissioner, Ivy Patdu, clarified that the DPA is not meant to provide undue cover to government officials, but rather to protect any personal data contained in government records that is not relevant to an FOI request, particularly when it affects private citizens.⁵⁴ She noted, for instance, that the costs of government officials’ properties are not sensitive personal information and may therefore be disclosed. She also stressed that the legal mandate to disclose assets, liabilities, and net worth, with limited to no redactions, proceeds from the language of Republic Act No. 6713. This, while noting at the same time, that the law does permit the non-disclosure of information in the SALN “that would put the life and safety of an individual to a danger or an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy".⁵⁵ With this pronouncement, the concerned government agencies committed to review the SALN form to achieve a reasonable balance between public interest and that of the individual.⁵⁶ ⁵¹ A SALN is a “declaration of one’s assets (i.e. cars, houses, cash in bank, etc), liabilities (i.e. loans, debts, etc) including business and financial interests of a public official, of his or her spouse, and of his or her unmarried children under 18 years old still living in their parents’ household. The basis for the SALN is the 1987 Philippine Constitution and RA 6713.” See: Venus, C. (2016, June 22). #InquirerSeven facts you need to know about SALNs. Inquirer.net. newsinfo.inquirer.net/791861/inquirerseven-facts-salnstatement-assets-liabilities-net-worth ⁵² Placido, D. (2017, September 26). National Privacy Commission: Some details in cabinet members’ SALNs did not have to be redacted. ABS-CBN News. news.abscbn.com/news/09/26/17/national-privacy-commissionsome-details-in-cabinet-members-salns-did-not-have-tobe-redacted ⁵³ Placido, D. (2017, September 26). Op. cit. ⁵⁴ Takumi, R. (2017, July 27). ‘Gov’t officials can’t use Data Privacy Act to evade FOI requests’. GMA News. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/575361 /gov-t-officials-can-t-use-data-privacy-act-to-evade-foirequests/story/ ⁵⁵ Gita, R. (2017, September 26). Palace vows to limit SALN redaction to sensitive info. Inquirer.net. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/localnews/2017/09/27/palace-vows-limit-saln-redactionsensitive-info-566184 ⁵⁶ Ibid. 8