SALNs of Cabinet members show Villar richest, Mariano poorest
By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter
PUBLIC WORKS and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar is the only billionaire and the richest among President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Cabinet with a net worth of P1.41 billion, according to his latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Based on documents released by the Office of the President on Thursday, Mr. Villar declared a total of P1.42 billion in assets and P14.5 million in liabilities as of Dec. 31, 2016.
His assets include seven real properties with total acquisition cost of P134.9 million and “other real and personal properties” amounting to P1.29 billion that were not specified in his December declaration.
The second wealthiest Cabinet official is Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III whose net worth is P351.9 million, the same figure as his total assets. Mr. Dominguez did not list any liabilities..
Mr. Dominguez’s total assets consist of nine real estate properties cumulatively worth P57.6 million and personal properties “acquired various years ago” worth P294.3 million.
Next to Mr. Dominguez is Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima, who declared a total net worth of P305 million with no liabilities. The bulk of his assets came from his “cash on hand and in bank” amounting to P143.7 million.
Following Mr. Salalima is Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, who has a net worth of P302 million with no liabilities.
Other Cabinet officials with considerable net worth include Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, and Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
On the other hand, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael V. Mariano is the “poorest” with a net worth of P273,629.58.
National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza declared a total net worth of P731,716.
Other Cabinet officials with comparably lower net worth are Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana with P3.7 million, Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo with around P2 million, and Health Secretary Paulyn Rosell-Ubial with P1.2 million.
The documents released by Malacañang yesterday did not include the SALNs of Executive Secretary C. Salvador Medialdea, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr., Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” T. Go, and Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo.
