Vice mayor denies having hidden wealth

Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna has maintained that he has no hidden wealth in response to accusations that he has a P50-million mansion and a fleet of luxury vehicles, including a sports car.

The camp of the vice mayor said yesterday that politics had something to do with the "baseless accusation."

Office of the Ombudsman is reportedly ready to conduct an investigation on claims that Lacuna, who is seeking his third and last term as the city’s second top elective official, had hidden wealth.

A member of a graft watchdog had earlier requested for a lifestyle check on Lacuna, whom he claimed was living a life of luxury on a salary of a vice mayor.

To prove that he had no hidden wealth, Lacuna gave several reporters a tour of his house yesterday morning.

Lacuna’s personal secretary, Novie Macam, said the "mansion" being referred to sits on a mere 240 square-meter lot on Biyaya street in Bacood, Sta. Mesa. It is worth only only P11 million.

The money used to pay for the house came from the retirement pay of Lacuna’s wife, Melanie Honrado-Lacuna, who had served as assistant vice president of the Philippine National Bank.

The retirement pay could not cover the entire cost of the house, forcing the family to acquire a loan from Insular Bank.

"The house cannot be considered a mansion. The four-story structure is just an ordinary house with a garage," Macam said.

The sports car being referred to is actually a 1973 model, which the vice mayor received as a gift from his friend, Antonio Ritongwa.

"The vice mayor has been in the public service for 37 years and has had no graft charge filed against him," his secretary added.

The Lacuna family is currently engaged in a restaurant business — the Panay Calipay Grill and Restaurant at the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard.

"Mrs. Lacuna, who is also a doctor and their children all work in the restaurant. Dr. Lacuna even serves customers in the restaurant," Macam added.

All the children of the Lacuna couple, according to her, are professionals. The eldest is a doctor, the second is an architect who designed the house, the third is a dentist, the fourth is a certified public accountant and the youngest is an advertising executive.

"There is no truth all the accusations, which apparently were politically motivated," she pointed out. "This is not a good birthday gift to the vice mayor who is celebrating his 66th birthday today."

Macam said the vice mayor welcomes the lifestyle check, but said it should be performed on all government officials.