Pacman richest in House

Manila, Philippines – Boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is the new and only billionaire in the House of Representatives.

A summary report of the 2010 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth of the 284 members of the House showed that Pacquiao has a net worth of P1.13 billion and no liabilities.

The boxing legend dislodged former Las Piñas congresswoman Cynthia Villar, wife of Sen. Manuel Villar who was the richest lawmaker in 2007 and 2008.

Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez with assets of P624,847,943 is the second richest congressman.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is the third richest with a declared net worth of P623,600,000.

Fourth richest is Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, with total assets of P555,069,000. He is followed by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, with P475,611,941; Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, P294,602,481; and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., P283,291,016.

Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco is the eighth richest with P199,593,000 in declared net worth. He is followed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, with a net worth of P195,780,000.

Rounding up the top 10 richest in the House is Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, who is worth P165,996,000.

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the 17th richest in the chamber with a net worth of P140,212,268.57. Her two sons, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, declared a net worth of P95,547,024, and P87,263,644, respectively.

Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, a brother-in-law of the former leader, has a net worth of P137,922,797.

Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, a neophyte lawmaker, is 15th richest with P148,356,925.

Party-list representatives are also among the most affluent, including Catalina Bagatsing (ALE), with a net worth of P137,237,288; Christopher Co (AKO-BICOL), P94,086,359; Teodorico Haresco Jr., P93,138,245; and Homer Mercado (1-UTAK),P86,316,733.

As in the past years, militant lawmakers are among the poorest.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano is worth only P75,711, followed by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño with P91,000 then Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino with P190,000.

Political dynasties

The SALN of senators meanwhile showed the growth of political dynasties in their respective hometowns.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family are reigning in Ilocos Norte where his mother, former first lady Imelda is a congresswoman of the second district, while sister Imee is the governor.

First cousin Angelo Barba is vice governor, while Mariano Marcos II, also a first cousin, is a provincial board member.

In Leyte, the senator’s first cousins Martin Romualdez is congresswoman of the first district while Alfred Romualdez is mayor.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s son is Cagayan representative.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, listed in his SALN that he is a cousin of Laguna Gov. Emilio Ramon Ejercito, and that his half-brother, Joseph Victor Ejercito, is congressman of San Juan.

Sen. Edgardo Angara has four relatives who are elected local officials. His son, Juan Edgardo is congressman; sister Bellaflor Angara-Castillo is Aurora governor; brother Arturo is Baler mayor and niece Karen Angara is a councilor in Baler.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri’s brother, Jose Ma. Zubiri III, is Bukidnon representative; his father, Jose R. Zubiri Jr. is provincial vice-governor and second cousin Juan Miguel Cuna is assistant secretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Sen. Alan Cayetano’s wife, Maria Laarni, is Taguig City mayor; brother Lino Edgardo is barangay captain of Fort Bonifacio; cousin Jessa Coronel is working at the office of Sen. Pia Cayetano.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla’s brother Strike is mayor of Bacoor, Cavite while the senator’s son Jolo is board member in the same town.

Revilla’s wife Lani is Bacoor representative. The senator is also a brother-in-law of Antipolo Gov. Casimiro Ynares III.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III is son of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., whose wife Ruth de Lara Guingona is mayor of Gingoog City. A cousin, Benjamin Guingona III, is city councilor in Zamboanga City.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.’s son Mark has replaced the senator’s wife Cynthia as representative of Las Piñas, where brother Vergel Aguilar is the city mayor.

Sen. Francis Escudero, also a scion of a political clan in Sorsogon, has four relatives in key positions in the province – father Rep. Salvador Escudero III, uncles Antonio Escudero Jr., vice-governor; Ramon Escudero, Casiguran vice mayor; and Rico Hatoc, councilor.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has seven relatives in various government offices. Her son Narciso is her chief of staff; brother, Benjamin Defensor is director of SMC-HK; sister Nenalyn is with the Commission on Higher Education and cousin Arthur Defensor is Iloilo governor.

A nephew, Arthur Defensor Jr., is congressman, cousin Evelyn Roho is a state auditor and another cousin, Horacio Suansing, is deputy commissioner at the Bureau of Customs.

Sen. Lito Lapid reported in his SALN that his son Mark is the general manager-COO of TIEZA while daughter Ma-An Krista is an immigration officer.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III has four relatives in public service. They are daughters Romina Frances, a member of his staff, and Diorella Maria, an employee at the Commission on Appointments; brother Valmar, Parañaque councilor; and son Gian Carlo, Quezon City councilor.

Sen. Ralph Recto’s wife Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos has in her employ her sister Emelyn, who is her executive assistant.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III only listed his brother Cebu Rep. Tomas.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has employed his brother, Antonio III, while Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s brother, Joseph Donato, is with the budget department.

Sen. Franklin Drilon’s relatives in government service are his sister-in-law Carol Drilon, a doctor at the Philippine Heart Center, brother, Julius, director of Ospital ng Makati.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson has no relatives in the government except for his son, Ronald Jay, who is his chief of staff.

Only senators Joker Arroyo, Loren Legarda, and Gregorio Honasan have no relatives in government. – Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)