Villar is Senate’s lone billionaire

MANILA, Philippines – Cynthia Villar is the only billionaire senator in the country.

The assets of Villar and her husband, former senator Manny Villar, jumped from P1.62 billion to P3.5 billion from 2014 to 2015, based on their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) submitted to the Senate secretariat.

The Villar couple’s worth increased significantly, compared to 12 other senators whose net worth also improved by a few million pesos since 2014.

The Villar couple’s businesses expanded from real estate to home building, furnishing and home improvement.

Their assets included a house and lot in BF Homes in Las Piñas and several lots in Muntinlupa, Cavite and Las Piñas. 

They also have P2,249,716,143 in investment in shares of stocks and P1.246 billion in real and personal properties. 

Based on their SALN, the Villar couple has no liabilities.  

From 1982 to 2015, the Villar couple listed themselves as major shareholders of Fine Properties Inc.; MB Villar Co. Inc.; Macy’s Inc.; Mooncrest Property Development Corp.; Hollinger Holdings Corp. and Vistaland and Lifescapes Inc.

Sen. Ralph Recto is the second richest senator, with net worth pegged at P531.6 million.

Third richest senator is Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with P211.07 million.

The fourth richest is detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with P193.1 million, followed by detained Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. with P173.3 million and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile with P122.1 million. In 2013, they were all accused of receiving commissions from the pork barrel scam.

Revilla listed P37.9 million in liabilities broken down as follows: P35.4 million from various creditors, subscriptions payable of P2.343 million to Jomarog Inc.; P93,750 to Nature Concepts Inc. and P75,000 to Villa Jose Jacinta.

Revilla, who has seven relatives in government service, is a stockholder of Jomarog Inc., Villa Jose Jaconta and Nature Concepts.

His assets include several properties in Cavite, Muntinlupa, Tagaytay, Tanay and Antipolo City. He has vehicles, including a BMW 730 Li worth almost P5.8 million in acquisition cost and a Lexux LX 570 Wagon acquired at P5 million.

He has shares in Orchard Golf, Riviera Golf and Sports, Fairways and Blue Water and Alabang Country Club.

Revilla also declared 5,000 common shares in San Miguel Corp.; 134,000 common shares in GMA 7 Network; 27,055 common shares (par 100.00) in Villa Jose Jacinta Inc.

Although detained at Camp Crame, Estrada’s net worth slightly increased in 2015.

Estrada’s assets were pegged at P213.597 million, including P14.235 million cash on hand/in bank; jewelry worth P1.467 million; motor vehicles worth P8.274 million; furniture, fixtures, and equipment worth P4.24 million; and investments worth P119 million.

The seventh richest senator is Juan Edgardo Angara with P118.2 million. 

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III has P103.8 million, Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares with P89.11 million, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago with P85 million, and Sen. Sergio Osmeña III with P90.5 million.

Senate President Franklin Drilon has P79.01 million, followed by Sens. JV Ejercito with P78.6 million, Pia Cayetano with P73.3 million, Vicente Sotto III with P66.8 million, Nancy Binay with P61.3 million and Lito Lapid with P43.1 million.

Sen. Loren Legarda has P40.5 million, followed by Sens. Bam Aquino with P28.7 million, Alan Peter Cayetano with P23.5 million, Gregorio Honasan with P20.9 million; Aquilino Pimentel III with P17.9 million and Antonio Trillanes IV with P5.9 million.

The poorest senator is Francis Escudero with P5.8 million.

Escudero has listed P44,307,901 in cash, P15.374 million in investments in stocks, various vehicles at P3.9 million, jewelry and other personal properties at P6.85 million, and a bank loan amounting to P3.091 million from Banco de Oro.

Escudero, who married actress Heart Evangelista in lavish rites in February 2015, reportedly signed a prenuptial agreement with the actress.