Migz Zubiri is richest neophyte senator, Trillanes poorest

The "senator from Maguidanao" Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz" Zubiri is the wealthiest among the neophyte senators elected in the last May 14 elections. He reported a total net worth of P43.3 million, which he said was boosted by his marriage to young socialite and model Audrey Tan. Detained senator and Oakwood mutiny leader Antonio Trillanes IV emerged as the poorest among the new comers in the Senate with a net worth of P2.2 million. Zubiri was followed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who declared a net worth of P16 million in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL), but has debts worth P2.8 million, including P1.5 million borrowed from his mother, Sandra Lee-Schramm-Cayetano and a P1.8-million Pag-Ibig housing loan. Two other neophytes, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and Sen. Francis “Chiz" Escudero, came in third and fourth with net worth P13.3 million and P7.4 million, respectively. Zubiri, who landed in the 12th spot in the May polls, said he was just lucky that his wife got an advanced inheritance from her parents, which was also reportedly used to bankroll his tough senatorial bid. Zubiri’s election as the 12th senator, however, is still under protest by opposition bet Aquilino Pimentel III. Audrey Zubiri’s real estate properties include two condominium units in Pasig City and Makati City with a combined worth P11 million; a house and lot in Makati City, P4.3 million; and a parcel of lot in Cainta, Rizal worth P272,000. Zubiri likewise topped his neophyte colleagues in having the biggest liabilities at P9.7 million. He owns a posh house and lot, which he acquired in 2003 for P15 million. Of the five neophyte senators, Aquino, son of former president Corazon Aquino and martyred former senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., has zero liability. Trillanes has a P60,000 liability in the form of a salary loan he obtained from the government before staging the Oakwood mutiny in 2003. - GMANews.TV