Elected officials at Capitol: Millionaires clique

CEBU, Philippines - All elected officials of the Cebu provincial government are millionaires.

This according to their latest sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) obtained by The FREEMAN.

Topping the list is Second District Board Member Jose Mari “Tata” Salvador who declared a net worth of P43.5 million and $342,447 USD (P18.5 billion based on the prevailing foreign exchange rate) with no liabilities.

Net worth or actual wealth is the sum of total assets minus total liabilities.

Salvador is richer than Governor Hilario Davide III (P18.4 million) and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale (P42 million) as of December 31, 2016.

Salvador declared P8.54 million worth of real properties comprising of five residential lots, four house and lot units, and a commercial house in Cansojong and Canduman in Talisay City and in Poblacion, Dalaguete, Cebu. These properties were acquired from 2000 to 2015.

He declared P34.9 million personal properties and $342,447 USD cash in bank ($204,558, HSBC Dollar Account New York; $50,468, Metrobank Dollar Account New York; and $87,420, Metrobank Dollar Account Cebu, Philippines).

His personal properties include 20 private and public utility vehicles; such as three Toyota Vios; 10 multicabs; three Toyata Corolla; and one each of Fuso truck, Honda, Toyota Hi-Lux, and Kawasaki motor.

He also owns jewelry worth P41,200 that he acquired in 2008; three television sets worth P323,000 acquired in 2010 and 2011; and other bank accounts worth P26.6 million.

Salvador’s businesses include three branches of Kyle gas station in the cities of Talisay and Carcar and in the town of San Fernando, Cebu acquired from 2009 to 2012; a trucking and hauling services acquired in 2014; a water refilling station in San Fernando town acquired in 2011; and a pizza parlor in Barangay Poblacion in Dalaguete town acquired in 2012.

He also owns a taxi fleet in Cebu (Kyleny Taxi), the first business he put up in 2008.

Salvador listed his uncle, Mario Montenegro, who works in government, as an elected councilman in the municipality of Dalaguete.

Next to Salvador is Sixth District Board Member Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano with a net worth of P35.84 million and liabilities worth P1.5 million.

Jonkie, son of the late board member Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano, took over his father’s place as candidate for Board Member in the May 2016 polls when his father passed away in due to complications from cancer and diabetes.

He declared real properties worth P30.3 million, including industrial and residential lands and buildings located in Opao, Mandaue City.

His personal and other properties worth P7.03 million include jewelry valued at P500,000; four cars totaling to P5.1 million (Toyota Innova, Hyundai Grand Starex GL, Ford Everest and Ford Expedition ); stocks worth P167,500; and cash on hand and bank accounts worth P1 million.

Jonkie is connected with Joly Cebu Phils. Inc (2007), Joly Bogo, Inc (2001), Joly Cybergate Corp. (2010), and Joly Red Cebu, Inc (2007).

He listed five relatives in government, namely Consolacion Councilman Alfred Francis Ouano, his brother; Mandaue City Opao Barangay Captain Basilisa Icalina and Opao Barangay Councilwoman Irenea Ouano, his aunts; Opao Councilman Andreo Icalina, his cousin; Capitol employee Kristian Ouano, his cousin; and Mandaue City Health employee Rosemari Tirado, his aunt.

Ranking third is Fourth District Board Member Horacio Franco with a net worth of P35.4 million with no liabilities. He has real properties worth P32.5 million and personal properties worth P2.9 million

Second District Board Member Edsel Galeos ranks fourth with a net worth of P23.1 million and liabilities worth P32.2 million.

His assets are worth P76.1 million, including real properties amounting to P20.9 million and personal properties totaling to P55.3 million.

Galeos has 40 parcels of residential and agricultural lands located in Cebu City, Talisay City, Argao town, and Lapu- Lapu City; two commercial lot in Barangays Poblacion and Tulic in Argao; and five commercial buildings in Poblacion, Argao and Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

He owns nine vehicles worth a total of P9.8 million; P500,000 worth of jewelry, appliances and furniture; and cash on hand and bank accounts amounting to P24.1 million.

Salvador, Ouano, Franco, and Galeos are all first-term board members.

Completing the list are Board Members Alex Binghay (P21.6 million net worth and P13.4 liabilities); Sun Shimura (P19.53 million net worth and P371,031 liabilities); Glenn Bercede (P16.2 million net worth and P1.52 liabilities); Earl Tidy Oyas (P7.6 million net worth with no liabilities); Celestino Martinez III (P7.5 million net worth and P1.5 million liabilities); Christopher Baricuatro (P5.2 million net worth and P1.2 million liabilities); Miguel Antonio Magpale (P3.5 million net worth and P12.5 liabilities); Julian Daan (P3.48 million net worth and P1.7 million liabilities); Jude Thaddeus Sybico (P2.6 million net worth with no liabilities); Jerome Christian Librando (P1.93 million net worth with no liabilities); Victoria Toribio (P1.6 million net worth and P3.6 million liabilities); and Raul Bacaltos (P1.2 million with no liabilities).

Under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practice Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, elected officials are required to submit their SALN every year to the Office of the Ombudsman. — /JMO (FREEMAN)