1-PACMAN party-list solon is richest congressman in 2016, SALN shows

1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Michael Odylon Romero is the richest congressman from the House of Representatives in 2016, the summary of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth shows.

Romero has declared that as of December 31, 2016, he has total assets of P7.058 billion and total liabilities of P48.41 million, resulting in a net worth of P7.009 billion.

The summary of the SALN of the congressmen was released to the media on Friday.

Following Romero with the highest net worth are DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay Villar with P1.409 billion, Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Alfredo Benitez with P942 million, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Imelda Marcos with P917 million, and Quezon City 4th District Representative Feliciano Belmonte Jr. with P852 million.

The next five richest congressman are as follows:

• MANILA TEACHERS party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson (P768 million)
• Marikina City 1st District Representative Bayani Fernando (P738 million)
• Batangas 6th District Representative Vilma Santos-Recto (P522 million)
• Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. (P491 million)
• Leyte 1st District Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez (P477 million)

Meanwhile, having the least net worth among the 294 lawmakers is Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Jane Elago, with only P50,000.

Following her are Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. with P179,071.71, GABRIELA Women's Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas with P501,000, KALINGA Party-list Representative Abigail Faye Ferriol-Pascual with P672,050.88, and COOP NATCO Party-list Representative Sabiano Canama with P780,000.

The next five congressmen with the least net worth are:

• ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro (P904,053.13)
• GABRIELA Women's Party-list Representative Emmi De Jesus (P1.245 million)
• YACAP Party-list Representative Benhur Lopez Jr. (P1.255 million)
• Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate (P1.351 million)
• AASENSO Party-list Representative Teodoro "Ted" Montoro (1.785 million)

According to Section 8(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, public servants are required to file their SALN within 30 days after assuming position, on or before April 30 of every following year, and within 30 days after separation from service.

In the SALN, the assets such as land, houses, and cash, liabilities including personal or institutional loans, and the business and financial interests of a government official, his or her spouse and unmarried children under 18 years old still living in the household are declared under oath.

The summary of congressmen's 2016 SALN can be found here. —KG/KVD, GMA News