GMA kin among wealthiest party-list representatives

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo’s sister-in-law is among the richest party-list lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of party-list Kasangga declared a total net worth of P88.6 million with no liabilities. She is a younger sister of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Rep. Arroyo was among 32 party-list lawmakers accommodated by the House in April 2009 following a Supreme Court ruling.

She turned out to be the second richest party-list member, second to Buhay Rep. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela who had consistently topped the most affluent sectoral representatives in the legislative chamber.

Coscolluela topped the 10 richest party-list lawmakers with a net worth of P140 million and only P5 million in liabilities.

Aangat Tayo Rep. Daryl Grace Abayon closely followed Arroyo with a net worth of P47.9 million and P23.5 million in liabilities. Abayon is the daughter of former Northern Samar congressman Harlin Abayon.

The fourth richest party-list lawmaker is Nicanor Briones of Agap with P44.243 million, followed by Ulpiano Sarmiento of A-Teacher with P44.237 million, Carol Lopez of Yacap (P40 million), Catalina Leonen-Pizzaro of ABS (P38.4 million).

Coscolluela’s colleague, Buhay Rep. Rene Velarde, son of Bro. Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai movement, declared a net worth of P37.1 million, with P749,621.15 in liabilities.

Ninth richest party-list lawmaker is Salvador Britanico of Banat with P22.5 million, followed by Cesar Cobrador with P21.8 million.

On the other hand, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano is still the poorest of the sectoral representatives with only P42,219 net worth.

Rep. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna has P118,000, while Mariano’s colleague, Rep. Joel Maglungsod, declared he is only worth P145,000.

The fourth poorest is Rep. Raymond Palatino of Kabataan party-list with P150,000 worth of assets.

Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is fifth with P270,000. Mendoza is the husband of governor-elect Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, outgoing congresswoman from South Cotabato.

Sixth poorest is Rep. Narciso Santiago III of Alliance for Rural Concerns, who declared a net worth of P700,000. He is the son of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Interior undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr.

Seventh is Bohol Rep. Adam Relson Jala with P782,000, followed by columnist Jonathan dela Cruz of Abakada Guro with P800,000, Bayan Muna’s Neri Colmenares with P1.1 million, and Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao, with P1.4 million.

Of the total 52 party-list representatives, only seven are non-millionaires. –Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)