Pacman, Imelda lead richest in House

MANILA, Philippines - Reelected Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is the richest member of Congress.         

He valued his real and personal properties as of the end of 2012 at P2.028 billion and declared liabilities of P258 million, for a net worth of P1.8 billion.

He is worth P400 million more than the richest senator, Manuel Villar Jr., who declared his net worth at P1.45 billion.         

Pacquiao, a champion boxer, earned more than P400 million in one year despite losing two fights. He was worth P1.3 billion in 2011.         

Former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is the second richest member of the House of Representatives.

She has P932.8 million in assets, P10 million in liabilities for a P922.8-million net worth.

She became poorer by P10 million. She was worth P932 million in 2011.         

In third place in wealth is Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who has real and personal properties valued at P819.9 million, P2.3 million in liabilities or a net worth of P817.6 million.

He was worth P736 million in 2011, when he sold shares in The STAR to the group of businessman Manuel Pangilinan.         

He is followed by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who declared assets valued at P811.9 million and liabilities amounting to P109.8 million for a net worth of P702.1 million. He was worth P686 million in 2011.         

Another Negros Occidental congressman, Julio Ledesma IV, is in sixth place with P713.7 million in assets, P123.1 million in liabilities for a net worth of P590.6 million. He grew his wealth by P35 million from P555 million in 2011.         

In seventh is Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who placed the value of his assets at P474.2 million. He had no liabilities. His net worth remained flat.         

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar came next in the wealthiest list with properties worth P365 million and liabilities of P3.250 million for a net worth of P361.8 million.         

Senator Villar’s son earned more than P200 million in one year. His 2011 net worth was P161.2 million.         

Completing the Top 10 are Representatives Augusto Syjuco Jr. of Iloilo (P301.6 million net worth), Enrique Cojuangco of Tarlac (P214.8 million) and Joel Roy Duavit of Rizal (P195.9 million). Syjuco lost his reelection bid.         

The next 10 House members with high net worth are Rodolfo Antonio of Nueva Ecija (P189 million), Danilo Suarez of Quezon (P188.7 million), Lucy Torres Gomez of Leyte (P179.6 million), Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo (P173.4 million), Lani Mercado-Revilla of Cavite (P169.1 million), Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte (P159.5 million), Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga (P158.3 million), Rodolfo Valencia of Misamis Oriental (P150.6 million), Joseph Gilbert Violago of Nueva Ecija (P121.3 million), and detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga (P120.5 million).          

Arroyo valued her assets at P270.5 million and liabilities at P150 million.         

Her son Diosdado, representative of Camarines Sur’s second district, is worth P86.2 million. He has P127.4 million in assets and P41.2 million in liabilities.

Another Arroyo son, Juan Miguel, is worth P100.6 million.         

Senator-elect and outgoing Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara declared a net worth of P99.5 million, while another elected senator, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, is worth P72.6 million.