Videographer is highest paid Palace functionary

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino’s chief videographer is the highest paid functionary in Malacañang.

According to the Commission on Audit (COA), Virgilio Nadal, who heads Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM), pocketed a total of P2.7 million in salaries, allowances and other benefits in 2014.

The amount is more than twice Aquino’s salary as President, which is worth only P120,000 a month or P1,440,000 a year.

RTVM is the unit under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) that documents presidential activities through video coverage.

Nadal’s gross compensation included P860,762.49 in salaries, P1,660,576.81 in allowances and P208,999.92 in discretionary fund.

He holds the rank of assistant secretary but receives higher pay than his boss, PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who received P1.6 million last year, which include P1.1 million in salaries, P173,000 in allowances and P336,000 in discretionary fund.

Other Palace officials with the rank of secretary took home millions.

They are Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who was paid P1.9 million in 2014; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., P1.8 million; presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, P1.8 million; chief presidential legal counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, P1.9 million; presidential advisers Danilo Cortez, P1.9 million, and Ronald Llamas, P1.9 million; and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad, P1.9 million.

There are 24 undersecretaries, 10 assistant secretaries, five deputy executive secretaries, eight assistant executive secretaries and 15 technical assistants who also pocket millions in salaries and other benefits.

Lacierda’s deputy Abigail Valte, an undersecretary, received P1.5 million in 2014.

But the Palace officials’ pay pales in comparison with that of officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the bulk of compensation in the form of allowances.

The highest paid congressional officer is Arturo Tiu, who received P4.4 million last year. His three deputies took home between P3.1 million and P3.3 million.