Jardeleza is still wealthiest Supreme Court justice

MANILA, Philippines — Francis Jardeleza, a former solicitor general, remained the richest magistrate of the Supreme Court in 2016 with a net worth doubling that of the second wealthiest high court justice.

According to government disclosures, Jardeleza has cash and assets worth P252 million. The Supreme Court's website notes that the magistrate had an "extensive law practice" in the 1980s prior to joining government service. In 1996, he became senior vice president and counsel of San Miguel Corp., a blue chip food conglomerate.

Following him on the list is Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo and Benjamin Caguioa with wealth worth P138 million and P121 million, respectively.

Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Bienvenido Reyes, Diosdado Peralta, Jose Mendoza, Lucas Bersamin, Samuel Martires, Presbitero Velasco, Teresita Leonardo de Castro and newcomer Noel Tijam all had seven-figure net worth.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was the 11th richest with a net worth of P24 million.

Poorest among the magistrates was also the youngest. Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who worked as a University of the Philippines law professor, reported a net worth of P2.4 million.

The Commission on Audit previously said that Supreme Court justices are among the biggest earners in government in 2014. That year, Sereno got a paycheck of more than P350,000 monthly in total compensation. — Camille Diola; Graphic by Jonathan Asuncion