How rich are Cebu congressmen?
It has been reported that the Filipino taxpayers spend about three billion pesos each year for every member of the Lower House. Multiply that by the number of representatives we have. Congressmen have very big incomes, even if the basic salary is not high. They have too many allowances, bonuses, budgets for consultants and committee membership allowances, speaker’s gifts, and many more. But what have they done for the people with the money from the poor?
Cebuanos deserve to know how much is the net worth of their representatives. Based on the official documents, we are pleased to let the Cebuanos know how rich their respective congressmen are. Commissioner and Chairman of the National Privacy Commission, Raymund Liboro assured the public that under RA 6713, the SALN of public officials may be published without violating any law.
The richest is Cebu City south district Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa with a net worth of P69,721,309.75. Second is deputy speaker Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu Province’s third district with P50,697,469.38, but her assets are worth 106,865,763.04. If not for her liabilities, she might have been the richest. Third is Representative Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s fourth district. Fourth is Raul del Mar of Cebu City’s north district with P26,067,991.06. He has no liabilities.
Fifth is Jonas Cortes of Cebu’s sixth district. Sixth is Peter John Calderon of Cebu’s seventh district with P21,721,309.75. Seventh is Calderon’s cousin, Ramon Durano VI of the fifth district with P21,398,310. Eighth is Gerard Anthony Gullas, youngest among the Cebu representatives, with P19,820,000.
Ninth is my good friend for a long time, the former mayor of my birthplace, Argao, Representative Willy Caminero, a self-made man, with P17,919,525. His district covers Argao, as well as Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, and Samboan. Tenth place goes to Lapu-Lapu City’s lone district Representative Aileen Radaza with P16,538,417.31. Although she has the lowest, she has absolutely zero liability like del Mar. But wait, Radaza is not really the least rich. TUCP party list Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza has P8,591,427.96. Well, they look very rich if you compare your net worth to theirs. But Michael Romero, the PACMAN party list representative is worth P7,291,000,000. (that is billions with a B). The wife of Public Works Secretary Villar, Eileen Aglibay-Villar is worth P1,407,459,436 and Imelda Marcos, P920,800,000.
I really don’t want to ask if they have been truthful in their declarations of SALNs. That is presumed. What I ask is this: What have these congressmen done for their constituents? To me, their true wealth is how much they have helped the poorest of the poor in Cebu.
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