MANILA — For the fifth consecutive year, eight division champion and Saranggani Rep. Emmanuel “Pacman” Pacquiao remains as the richest and the only billionaire-member of the House of Representatives.
According to the summary of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) released by the lower chamber on Thursday, Pacquiao had a net worth of Php1.7 billion in 2014, higher than Php1.3 billion in 2013.
From third place last year, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. got the second position with Php921 million in 2014 from his Php819 million in 2013.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, meanwhile, got the third place from her second position with Php917 million in 2014 from Php922 million in 2013.
Including to the list of richest congressmen are Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental) with Php845 million in 2014 from Php713 million in 2013; Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Negros Occidental) with Php822 million in 2014 from Php617 million in 2013.
In their joint filing of the SALN, the couple, Rep. Mark Villar (Las Piñas) and Rep. Emmeline Aglipay (Diwa Party-list) came next with joint net worth of Php689 million.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is the seventh richest member with wealth amounted to Php474 million in 2014 from Php475 million in 2013.
In the eight, ninth, and tenth places were Rep. Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal) with Php317 million in 2014 from Php272 million in 2012, the late Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco Jr. has Php220 million in 2014 from Php217 million in 2013 and Cavite Rep. Alex Advincula has Php203 million in 2014 from P202 million in 2013.
Meanwhile, Anakpawis Party-lst Rep. Fernando Hicap recorded as the poorest member of the House with a net worth of Php95,000 in 2014 from Php37,000 in 2013.
Following Hicap are Kalinga Rep. Abigail Ferriol-Pascual has Php735,000 in 2014 from Php636,980 in 2013 and Abakada Party-list Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz has Php850,000 in 2014 from Php550 in 2013.
Under Republic Act 6770 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, all government officials are required under oath to list down all their assets and liabilities in the official document known as the SALN.