By Camille A. Aguinaldo
SENATORS Cynthia A. Villar and Emmanuel D. Pacquiao remained the only billionaires in the Senate, based on the 2017 statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of senators released to media on Thursday.
Ms. Villar remained the richest member in the Senate for four consecutive years, posting a P3.61 billion net worth with no declared liabilities. Her net worth by P5 million from her P3.606 million net worth in her 2016 SALN.
Ms. Villar’s husband is businessman and former Senate president Manuel B. Villar, Jr. who chairs Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc. and Starmalls Inc. His net worth, according to Forbes, is $4 billion or around P200 billion.
She was followed by professional boxer Mr. Pacquiao who had a net worth of P2.95 billion, which declined by P120 million from his 2016 SALN.
Meanwhile, the two least wealthy senators are Leila M. De Lima with a net worth of P7.94 million and Antonio F. Trillanes IV with a net worth of P6.87 million.
The other senators had the following net worth: Ralph G. Recto (P538.89 million); Juan Miguel F. Zubiri (P152.09 million); Juan Edgardo M. Angara (P131.76 million); Franklin M. Drilon (P93.73 million); Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares (P90.67 million); Sherwin T. Gatchalian (P88.23 million); Joseph Victor G. Ejercito (P78.95 million); Richard J. Gordon (P69.51 million); Vicente C. Sotto III (P64.73 million); Nancy S. Binay-Angeles (P60.61 million); Loren B. Legarda (P51.32 million); Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV (P39.19 million); Panfilo M. Lacson (P36.31 million); Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva (P23.72 million); Senate president Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III (P18.11 million); and Francis N. Pangilinan (P13.47 million)
Completing the list at the bottom of the net-worth hierarchy are Senators Francis G. Escudero (P8.5 million), Ms. De Lima, and Mr. Trillanes IV.

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