House releases SALNs of members

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives released through its website yesterday a summary of its members’ statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), showing party-list lawmakers to be among the richest and poorest in the chamber.

Michael Romero of party-list group 1-Pacman remains the richest, with a net worth of P7.291 billion for 2017, up from P7 billion in 2016.  He has assets valued at P7.328 billion and liabilities of P37 million.

The second richest is Emmeline Aglipay-Villar of  Diwa, another party-list group, who has a net worth of P1.407 billion. She is the wife of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar. The President has appointed her as Department of Justice undersecretary.

The third House billionaire is Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental, who improved his net worth from P943 million in 2016 to P1.005 billion in 2017.

In contrast, the Senate has two billionaires in Cynthia Villar and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. 

Imelda Romualdez-Marcos of Ilocos Norte is the fourth richest House member with a net worth of P921 million.

Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City follows her with P861 million, Virgilio Lacson of Manila Teachers, P792 million; Bayani Fernando of Marikina City, P739 million; Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas, P539 million; Antonio Floirendo of Davao del Norte, P524 million; Yedda Romualdez of Leyte, P478 million; Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga, P465 million; and Juan Pablo Bondoc, also of Pampanga, P427 million.

Bondoc is the biggest gainer in terms of wealth. His net worth in 2016 was P144 million. He grew his wealth by P283 million.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is worth P92 million; Rodolfo Fariñas, majority leader, P170 million; Aurelio Gonzales of Pampanga, deputy majority leader, P180 million; Danilo Suarez of Quezon, minority leader, P171 million; Ronaldo Zamora of San Juan, Commission on Appointments (CA) vice chairman, P151 million; and Rodolfo Albano III, CA majority leader, P41 million.

Leftist party-list representatives are among the poorest House members. Sarah Elago of Kabataan has a net worth of P75,800; Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, P514,660; France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers, P1.388 million; and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, P1.645 million.

The poorest legislative district representative is Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur’s third district. He valued his assets at P3.664 million and liabilities at P3.1 million, for a net worth of P564,000. Vice President Leni Robredo used to represent his district.

The other richest House members are Michaela Violago and Rosanna Vergara of Nueva Ecija, P342 million and P326 million, respectively; Abraham Tolentino of Cavite, P303 million; Michael John Duavit of Rizal, P252 million; Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo, P286 million; Alex Advincula also of Cavite, P260 million; Manuel Luis Lopez of Manila, P240 million; Zajib Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, P240 million; Vicente Veloso of Leyte, P228 million; Peter Unabia of Misamis Oriental, P216 million; Strike Revilla also of Cavite, P215 million; Henry Ong of Leyte, P213 million; Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, P211 million; and Richard Eusebio of Pasig City, P209 million.

Veloso is another big gainer. His net worth soared by P223 million from just P25 million in 2016. Leyte colleague Ong increased his wealth by P91 million from P122 million in 2016.

Another Leyte lawmaker, Lucy Torres-Gomez, is worth P182 million.