VALMONTE V BELMONTE

Facts:
Petitioners, members of media, seek to compel the GSIS by mandamus to furnish them with the
list of names of Batasan members belonging to UNIDO and PDP-Laban who were able to secure
clean loans immediately before the February 7 election through intercession of Imelda Marcos;
to furnish them with certified true copies of the document evidencing their respective loans; or
to allow petitioners access to public records for the subject information.

In reply, GSIS asserts confidentiality of its relationship with those who obtain loans,

Held:
Petitioners have the right of access to the public documents. The public nature of the loanable
funds of the GSIS and the public office held by the alleged borrowers make the information
sought a matter of public concern. Nor may the GSIS plead privacy because privacy may be
raised only by the party concerned, that is the borrowers. Moreover, in the instant case and
considering the public office of the borrowers, they may not plead privacy.