Billionaires Villar, Cusi remain richest Cabinet members in 2018

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi remained the only billionaires in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) last year.

Documents obtained by GMA News Online from the Malacañang Records Office (MRO) showed Villar had a net worth of 1.408 billion in 2018.

His personal properties are worth P1.229 billion while he listed real properties worth P179.829 million. Villar’s liabilities stood at P1.5 million.

With zero liabilities, Cusi’s net worth went up to P1.385 billion in 2018 from P1.356 billion the previous year.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III occupied the third spot with a net worth of P366.781 million, up by more than P28 million two years ago. He has no declared liabilities.

Rounding out the top five richest Cabinet members are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade who declared a net worth of P306.351 million and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar whose net worth is at P160.401 million. 

The declared net worth of other Cabinet members whose SALNs were made available by the Palace is as follows:

• Health Secretary Francisco Duque III - P120.076 million
• Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia - P114.097 million
• Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. - P106.522 million
• Presidential spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo - P72.899 million
• Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Isidro Lapeña - P70.742 million
• Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea - P54.654 million
• Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez - P48.800 million
• Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat - P45.288 million
• Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol - P28.533 million
• National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. - P25.745 million
• Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. - P23.383 million
• Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista - P20.008 million
• Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III - P16.380 million
• Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles - P12.097 million
• Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Secretary Adelino Sitoy - P10.039 million
• Education Secretary Leonor Briones - P9.610 million
• Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana - P8.757 million
• Acting Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. - P7.945 million
• Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña - P5.031 million

GMA News Online had also asked for copies of the asset statements of other Cabinet officials including Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu but the MRO said some SALNs were “not among the records available on file nor in the possession of this office.”

Under 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.

Exempt from filing the SALN are government officials and employees serving in an honorary capacity, laborers and casual or temporary workers.

The SALN, which is filed under oath, includes a waiver allowing the Office of the Ombudsman or its representatives to secure documents from all government agencies for investigatory purposes.

If an employee or official fails to file his or her SALN or failed to truthfully declare so, he or she may be suspended for one to six months for the first offense, and dismissed from service for the second offense.

The government can also initiate forfeiture proceedings against a government official or employee suspected to have accumulated ill-gotten wealth while in public office. — BAP, GMA News