Cabinet assets: Teodoro richest, Gonzales poorest

MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is the richest member of the Cabinet while National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales is the poorest, according to their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2008 submitted to the Office of the President.

Teodoro’s net worth, according to his 2008 SALN, was P232,427,111, more than double the amount he declared in 2007, which was P110,572,890.

Real estate inheritance was apparently responsible for the increase.

Gonzales, on the other hand, is not only the poorest but his net worth also dipped from P6,915,980 in 2007 to P5,359,924 last year.

Based on their SALNs in 2007 and last year, nine Cabinet officials saw their net worth increase while assets of seven of their colleagues declined.

Following Teodoro is Health Secretary Francisco Duque III with P98.385 million, reflecting a decline of over P1.5 million from P99.901 million in 2007.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno came in third richest with a net worth of P85,006,292 in 2008, higher than his P81,731,879 the previous year.

Ranking fourth richest in the Cabinet is Trade Secretary Peter Favila with P68.373 million. However, his net worth in 2007 was higher at P72.339 million.

Fifth is Vice President Noli de Castro, who has a net worth of P58.402 million, higher by nearly P4 million from P54.605 million in 2007.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral followed with P46.625 million, slightly higher than her net worth of P46.013 million in 2007.

Following Cabral is Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., who declared a net worth of P46.250 million from P44.050 million.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves came in the eighth richest Cabinet member with a net worth of P36,786,660 in 2008, up from his declared P36,247,910 in 2007.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita declared a net worth of P29,426,500, lower than the P31,787,904 he declared in 2007.

The 10th richest Cabinet official is Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, who declared a net worth of P25,723,173 last year, which is over P3 million higher than the P22,906,960 he registered in 2007.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza has a net worth P17 million compared to P12.89 million he declared in 2007.

Following Mendoza was Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, who declared a net worth of P14,177,368 in 2008, higher than the P14,081,080 he declared the previous year.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano followed with P13,348,559 in net worth, which was virtually unchanged from the P13,348,565 he declared the previous year.

Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. ranked 14th after declaring a net worth of P11.728 million. There was no information on his net worth in 2007.

Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza followed with a net worth of P10.5 million, registering a slight increase of around P500,000 compared to what he declared in 2007.

Following Atienza is Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, whose net worth in the last two years remained unchanged at P9.541 million.

Ranked as the 17th richest Cabinet official is Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who declared a net worth of P7,336,221, lower by P1 million compared to 2007.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque declared a net worth of P7,269,784 in 2008, slightly higher than the P7,018,040 in his 2007 SALN.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has a net worth of P5,990,840 in 2008, lower than the P7,102,030 he declared in 2007.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. declared a net worth of P5,733,812. There was no information on his SALN from 2007.

Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro ranked 21st with a net worth of P5.836 million, lower than the P6.096 million she declared in 2007.

There was no information on the 2008 net worth of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, who declared a net worth of P14.630 million in 2007. The same is true for Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, who was appointed only last year. He declared an “annual gross family income” of P59,765,226 in his SALN.

Meantime, Mendoza, when asked if Teodoro is already assured of the Palace’s endorsement as the standard-bearer of the newly merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said: “Meron pa ba? Walang nang iba (Is there any one else? There’s no one else).”

Mendoza made the comment in a casual conversation with The STAR at Teodoro’s birthday bash held at The Fort in Taguig City Saturday evening.

Bolstering Teodoro’s chances to be nominated as the administration’s presidential standard-bearer was the presence in the party of Lakas-Kampi bigwigs led by party president Executive Secretary Ermita, DILG Secretary Puno, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as well as a good number of regional and provincial leaders.

Teodoro, however, asked friends and guests to just enjoy the party and not to inject politics into the event. –-Paolo Romero with Jaime Laude, Philippine Star