Celebrities among richest, partylist reps poorest in Congress

Saturday, 14 May 2011 15:22 Angeli Sabillo

Based on their submitted statement of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALN), celebrities topped the rich list in the 15^th Congress with Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao leading the pack with a net worth of P1.134 billion, highest for the whole Congress, even toppling those in Senate after Senator Manuel Villar reported a P200 million loss after his unsuccessful presidential bid in 2010.

Because of this, Pacquiao is the lone billioner-lawmaker.

Nevertheless, Villar remains the richest member of Senate with a total net worth of P725.22 million.

Meanwhile, model and host Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez is the 15th richest with P148 million. Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla is at top 21 with a net worth of P125.7 million.

Next to Pacquiao in the list of top 10 richest representatives are:

2. Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez (P624.85M);
3. Former first lady Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos (P623.6M);
4. Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma (P555.07M);
5. Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (P475.61M);
6. Deputy Minority Leader Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco (P294.6M)
7. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., (P283.29M);
8. Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco, (P199.59 M)
9. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas,( P195.78M); and
10. Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron (P165.99M).

Next to Villar are:

2. Sen. Ralph Recto (P418.52 million);
3. Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (P311.5 million);
4. Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. (P125.75 million); and
5. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (P116.07 million).

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is the poorest senator with a total net worth of P3.83 million.

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is at the 17^th spot for the House of Representatives with a net worth of P140.2 million. She is followed by Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo with P137 million.

Cars and bling-bling

Inquirer.net reported that the wealth of the country’s 23 senators were mostly from their vehicles, jewelry and artwork.

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. supposedly own 10 vehicles worth P20.1 million, including a BMW730 which he bought for P5.85 million five years ago.

Majority Leader Vicente Soto III and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos declared P13.6 million and P13.3 million worth of vehicles, respectively. Other senators declared vehicles worth eight to around 10 million pesos.

Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda declared a jewelry collection worth P10 million while Sen. Edgardo Angara reportedly owned a collection of antiques and artworks worth P29.87 million. This includes a “Virgin Mary” Juan Luna painting worth P6.93 million.

Non-millionaires club

Still the poorest congressman and legislator is Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano with a net worth of P75,711.57.

Other non-millionaires include:

- Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro “Teddy" Casino ( P91,000.00)
- Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino (P190,000);
- Kalinga Rep. Abigail Faye Ferriol, P470,000;
- TUCP Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, P694,720;
- Akbayan Rep. Arlene “Kaka" Bag-ao, P712,000; and
-Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, P969,000.00.

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