DPWH chief Villar richest in Rody Cabinet

MANILA, Philippines - Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar is the richest member of President Duterte’s Cabinet, based on the 2016 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) submitted by the officials to the Malacañang Records Office.

According to his SALN, Villar, married to Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, has real property assets worth P134.8 million that include various condominiums and houses and lots in Metro Manila. 

The couple also listed under “personal properties” P1.288 billion, which adds up to P1.423 billion in total assets.

The Villar couple’s liabilities were listed at P14.525 million that includes loans payable to Emme Development and Realty Corp., Emirate Security and Maint Systems Inc. and other accounts payable.

The couple’s total net worth is P1.409 billion.

Villar is one of two sons of former Senate president Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Despite Duterte’s issuance of an executive order on Freedom of Information (FOI), Malacañang released the SALN for 2016 only yesterday after the media made the requests for the documents more than two months ago. 

Under civil service laws, government officials and employees are mandated to submit their SALNs by April 30 of each year.

Incidentally, the SALNs of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and chief presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo have not been released to the public.

Next to Villar, Duterte’s former classmate and now Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is the second richest with a net worth of P315.859 million. 

Dominguez listed various agricultural lots and residential properties in Davao del Sur, Davao City, Tuguegarrao in Cagayan as well as a house and lot in Portland, Oregon.

Dominguez listed at least 27 corporations wherein his family had business interests and financial connections as of December 2016.

Dominguez is a shareholder of Philex Mining Corp. since 1967; also a beneficial owner of Duncan Clarke Inc.; Atis Holdings Inc.; CG Dominguez and Associates Inc.; Cadenza Inc.; Hansom Corp.; Panabo Partners, among others.

Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima is the third richest Cabinet member with a total net worth of P304.961 million.

Resigned environment secretary Regina Paz Lopez ranked fourth richest with P266.468 million total net worth. 

She left the Cabinet early this year after the Commission on Appointments did not confirm her appointment.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi filed a total net worth of P162.7 million, followed by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who posted P152.272 million net worth for 2016.

Andanar’s business interests include shares at the Tagaytay Highlands Country Club; The Palm Country Club in Muntinlupa; Manila House Private Club Inc. in Taguig; VAA Builders Corp.; V.A. Aguilar Properties Inc.; K2 Skin and Laser Corp.; A=One Skin and Laser Corp. and K 3 Skin Laser and Aesthetic Corp.

Andanar is married to a scion of the political family of Aguilars in Las Piñas. He is also an in-law of the Villars.

National Economic and Development Authority head Ernesto Pernia’s net worth is pegged at P105.431 million; Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano with P54.737 million; Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez with P50.5 million; Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, P44.91 million; Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, P40.04 million; Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, P25.599 million; National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., P22.245 million; Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, P19.81million and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director Alex Paul Monteagudo, P16.505 million.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III listed P15.45 million in net worth; acting Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy, P14.7 million; National Commission for Muslim Filipinos director Yasmin Lao, P13.9 million; Presidential Management Staff acting head Ferdinand Cui, P7.981 million; Education Secretary Leonor Briones, P4.387 million; Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, P1.973 million and Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, P1.16 million.

National Anti-Poverty Commission head Liza Maza (P730,716 net worth) and Agrarian Reform Secretry Rafael Mariano (P273,629 ) were the only ones not in the millionaires’ circle of Duterte’s Cabinet.