MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte is only required to file, not to publicize, his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), Malacañang said Monday.

Duterte has a "different style" when it comes to the transparency of his wealth, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said as he argued that the Palace is not the repository of the document.

"If he (Duterte) is hiding anything he would not have filed any SALN," Panelo told reporters.

"That is the job of the Ombudsman to release [the President's SALN]," he added.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported that Duterte's SALN for 2018 was yet to be made public since the April 30 deadline for filing.

Under the country's charter, all public officials and employees, whether regular or under temporary status, are required to file a SALN.

Making public the SALN of top government officials is important in ensuring transparency and accountability as it helps in the lifestyle check of officials.

Panelo said media outfits seeking for a copy of Duterte's SALN should wait for the Ombudsman's directive.

"This President's style is different but he has not transgressed any law," he said.

• Palace claims Duterte submitted 2018 SALN