MANILA, Philippines – A world boxing champion and some politicians accused of corruption top the list of the richest lawmakers in the House of Representatives of the 15th Congress for 2010.
Boxing champion turned Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao?s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) was a knockout, listing him as the lone billionaire congressman with a net worth of P1,134,233,000. He has no liabilities, and lists real properties worth P397,933,000 and personal/other properties worth P736,300,000.
In contrast, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano has a net worth of P75,711.57. He has no liabilities and no listed real properties.
Pacquiao?s wealth is nearly 2x the wealth of the 2nd placer, 1st termer Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez, who has a net worth of P624,827,943.
Former First Lady turned Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos placed 3rd in the list, with a net worth of P623,600,000. Marcos lists no liabilities, real properties worth P620,000,000 and personal/other properties worth P3,600,000.
Marcos relative Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez placed 5th, with a net worth of P475,611,941.59. He has no liabilities but lists real properties worth P467,331.70 and personal other properties worth P428,878,771.59.
Negros Occidental 1st District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, known for being a perennial absentee, placed 4th, chalking up a net worth of P555,069,000, liabilities of P102,500,000. He has real estate properties worth P28 million and personal/other properties worth P629,569.
Former Arroyo Cabinet member, former Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) director-general turned Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco placed 6th with a net worth of P294, 602,481. He has no liabilities.
Syjuco has been dragged into the fertilizer fund scam controversy as well as the non-payment of scholarships during his time in TESDA.
Syjuco is more than twice richer than his former boss, former President now Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Arroyo placed only 17th with a net worth of P140,212,268.57. She has liabilities worth P34, 979,799, real properties worth P7,967,087, and personal/other properties worth P167,494,980.57.
Her brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo follows her at 18th place with a net worth of P137,922,797.32. Iggy lists liabilities worth P10,276,630, real properties worth P93,021,253.67 and personal/other properties worth P55,178,173.65.
Arroyo?s 2 sons are a far cry from the elders. Ang Galing Party-List Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Macapagal-Arroyo, who now stands accused of tax evasion, is the 27th richest congressman, worth P95,547,024.
Younger brother Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo placed 35th with a net worth of P87,263,644.95. He lists liabilities worth P41,200,000, real properties worth P62,346,744.95, and personal other properties worth P66,116,900.
House Speaker Sonny Belmonte is the 7th richest congressman, with a net worth of P283,291,016.78. He has liabilities of P2,309,971.84. He has real properties of P2,085,245 and personal other properties worth P283,515,743.62
This is the 1st time in a long time that a Villar is not the richest congressman. Las Pi?as Rep. Mark Villar, son of Senator Manny and former Rep. Cynthia, placed 12th among the richest with a net worth of P156,194,279.00
Entertainment personalities, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez placed 15th with a net worth of P148,356,925.23, while Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla declared a net worth of P125,753,230.95
San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito placed 50th with a net worth of P64,527,224.39.
Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia placed 45th with a net worth of P68,795,710.19.
On the flip side, among the bottom dwellers are the party-list congressmen of the progressive bloc.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Arlene Bago-ao placed 279th, Kabataan party-list rep. Raymond Palatino placed 282nd, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy Casi?o placed 283rd, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares placed 276th.
The full list was released to ABS-CBN on May 12, 2011 by the Records Division of the House of Representatives.
