Sarangani Rep. and Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao might not be the lone billionaire anymore in the House of Representatives, but he was still far and away its richest member at the close of the 16th Congress.
Based on his 2015 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Pacquiao more than doubled his net worth to P3.26 billion from P1.6 billion the previous year.
It was recalled that Pacquiao, 37, had a megabuck fight with American rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May, 2015, where the Filipino pugilist reportedly pocketed a whopping $150 million.
That?s roughly P7 billion, although a huge chunk of ?Pacman?s? purse goes to his promoter and training staff.
Pacquiao, who reportedly owns seven homes including a mansion in his native General Santos City and another in Beverly Hills in the United States, listed personal properties worth P1.7 billion and real properties worth P1.65 billion.
He claimed to have liabilities of around P97 million.
Pacquiao, now a senator, led the House in total fortune in all of three years that he was a congressman. He was the lone billionaire in the 300-member Chamber last year.
ANOTHER BILLIONAIRE
Coming in a far second to Pacquiao?s riches based on 2015 SALNs is Negros Occidental 1st District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, who had a net worth of P1 billion.
The figure is P178 million up from his P822 million net worth the previous year.
Last year?s second richest congressman, outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., is now third with P941 million, which is actually a P20 million increase from his 2014 net worth.
Tailing Belmonte are Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos and Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who have net worths of P917 million and P880 million, respectively.
Coming in sixth and seventh are DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay and her husband Las Pi?as Rep. Mark Villar, who both listed net worths of P689 million. Villar is the son of former Senate president, business magnate Manny Villar.
Rounding up the top 10 richest House members are Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (P475 million), former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (P393 million) and Rizal 1st District Rep. Joel Duavit (P302 million).
Gone from last year?s top 10 following his death on May 12, 2015 is Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco Sr.
?NON-MILLIONAIRE CLUB?
On the other side of the spectrum, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap retained the title of poorest congressman, as he declared a net worth of only P43,239.14.
Hicap, who resides at a fisher folk?s town Barangay Wawa, Rosario, Cavite was actually twice as ?rich? last year when he had a net worth of P95,572.65.
The Makabayan solon?s 2013 SALN bared a net worth of P37,722. Hicap is now the poorest House member for three years running.
If anything, there is one less member from the Chamber?s ?non-millionaire club? this year after ABAKADA party-list Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz declared a net worth of P1.4 million in his 2015 SALN. His declaration the previous year was P850,000.
The other non-millionaire aside from Hicap is second-poorest solon Kalinga Rep. Abigail Ferriol, who has a net worth of P715,150. Her listed net worth last year was P735,000.
De la Cruz, Ferriol, and Hicap were the only representatives whose fortunes were below P1 million last year.
