Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao still richest senators

MANILA, Philippines — Declaring a net worth of P3.719 billion with no liabilities, Sen. Cynthia Villar remained the richest senator in 2018.

Villar, who topped the 2019 senatorial elections, declared a net worth of P3,719,951,858 in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as of Dec. 31, 2018.

The senator’s husband, former Senate president Manny Villar, was recently named as the Philippines’ richest by Forbes in its 2019 list of richest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of $5.5 billion.

Her net worth last year was higher by about P108 million compared to 2017.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao came in as the second richest with a declared net worth of P3,005,808,000. He also declared total liabilities of P146,005,728.

The third richest in the 23-member chamber was Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, who posted a net worth of P555,325,479.82.

Fourth was Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who has net worth of P182,851,570,34 based on his SALN. He was followed by Sen. Sonny Angara, who declared a net worth of P135,840,710.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito is sixth richest with a net worth of P132,820,345.73, followed by Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who has a net worth of P97,726,758.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian declared a net worth of P96,210,607.14 with no liabilities, making him the eighth richest in the chamber.

Sen. Grace Poe came in at ninth spot with a net worth of P93,039,921.54. Rounding up the top 10 richest in the Senate was Sen. Richard Gordon with a declared net worth of P71,285,178.56.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III declared a net worth of P70,120,700.30

He was followed by Sen. Nancy Binay as 12th richest, with a net worth P60,132,461.

Sen. Loren Legarda has a net worth of P56,290,602.11. Next richest after her was Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, who declared P45,205,138.25 as his net worth.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson was the 15th richest with a declared net worth P42,442,341.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III declared a net worth P28,662,212 while Sen. Joel Villanueva stated his net worth at P26,921,555.

Incurring no liabilities last year, Sen. Gregorio Honasan reported his net worth at P25,882,099 while Sen. Francis Pangilinan declared his net worth at P16,695,048.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros reported a net worth of P15,627,176 followed by Sen. Francis Escudero, who declared a net worth of P10,575,228.

The “poorest” members of the chamber are also President Duterte’s chief critics: Sens. Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV, who have declared net worth of P7,706,392.45, and P7,533,012.10, respectively.