Jardeleza richest, Leonen poorest in SC

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Francis Jardeleza remains the richest magistrate of the Supreme Court (SC) while Justice Lucas Bersamin is the biggest gainer in terms of net worth based on their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) for 2016. 

Justice Marvic Leonen is still the poorest among the 15 members of the high court with P2,485,211.92 or an increase of P220,045.47 compared to his SALN filed in 2015. 

Records show Jardeleza’s net worth, which he jointly filed with his wife,  jumped by P2.4 million from P249,682,637.22 to P252,165,867.36.

Jardeleza, who previously worked as senior vice president and general counsel for conglomerate San Miguel Corp. from 1996 to June 30, 2010, became the 173rd SC associate justice on Aug. 20, 2014.

He has always topped the list of richest among the SC justices since then. 

His real properties amount to P58.9 million and personal properties at P193.2 million, totaling P252,165,867.36. Since he did not report any liabilities, his total assets equaled his net worth.

But the justice who reported the biggest hike in net worth is Bersamin. In 2015, his net worth was pegged at P29,156,828.00 compared to his 2016 net worth of P41,295,828.00 or a P12-million increase.

Bersamin also reported his real properties at P33 million and his personal properties at P26 million or total assets of P59,295,828.00. But his liabilities were recorded at P18 million.

Leonen declared his real properties at P3.4 million and his personal properties at P2.6 million or a total asset of P6,114,953.10. His liabilities reached P3,629,741.18.

The second richest magistrate is Justice Mariano del Castillo who has a net worth of P138,913,099.68. His real and personal properties were reported to be at P50 million and P88 million, respectively. He also posted liabilities at P459,147.50.

Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa comes in as the third richest of the SC justices with P121,550,000.00 net worth. His real and personal properties amounted to P40.8 million and P80.7 million, respectively. He did not mention having any liabilities. 

Coming in as fourth richest is Justice Antonio Carpio with P82,638,820.00. He placed his real properties at P38.3 million and personal properties at P44.3 million, with liabilities amounting to P75,000.

He is followed by Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe with a net worth of P78,298,634.93. Her real properties are at P53.7 million and personal properties at P24.5 million with no liabilities.

The sixth richest is Justice Bienvenido Reyes who said in his 2016 SALN that his net worth is P77,809,300.00. His real properties are at P37 million and personal properties at P41.7 million. He has a P1-million liability. 

Reyes, after serving almost six years as justice in the SC, retired last July 6.

At number seven is Justice Diosdado Peralta, whose combined net worth with his wife amounted to P43,541,831.25. His real properties are at P24 million and his personal properties at P19.3 million. His liabilities amounted to P50,000.

The eighth richest SC magistrate is Justice Jose Mendoza with P41,493,468.00. His real and personal properties are pegged at P12.9 million and P29.5 million, respectively. He claimed to have liabilities amounting to P1,034,172.73.

Bersamin gets the ninth spot.

The 10th richest is SC Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno with P24,249,941.14 net worth. Her real properties are pegged at P7.9 million and personal properties at P16.8 million. She reported her liabilities at P533,739.20.

The 11th richest is Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. with P17,753,473 net worth. His real and personal properties amounted to P1.3 million and P16.3 million, respectively. He did not have any liabilities. 

Velasco filed his SALN separate from his wife who also works in government.

The 12th richest is Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro with P17,732,000. Her real properties are at P11.7 million and personal properties at P17.6 million.

De Castro also filed a P11,712,000 liability. 

The two newest members of the High Court are Justices Samuel Martires and Noel Tijam. 

Martires reported a net worth of P40,767,000 with real properties at P13 million and personal properties at P27.7 million. His liabilities are at P5,500.

Tijam’s net worth is at P15,794,764.48. His real properties are at P4 million and personal properties at P11.8 million, with liabilities totaling P5,235.52.