Jardeleza still richest SC justice; Carpio's wealth had biggest rise in 2017

Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza was still the richest Supreme Court justice as of the end of 2017, while Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio's wealth saw the biggest increase among his colleagues in the tribunal.

Jardeleza declared a net worth of P261.067 million as of December 31, 2017, short of double that of Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, the second richest magistrate with a net worth of P141.54 million, according to a summary report posted on the court's website.

Owing to an increase in real property, meanwhile, Carpio's assets rose by P23.23 million, contributing to a net worth of more than P105.87 million and making him the fourth richest justice in 2017.

The most senior SC justice, Carpio's government salary amounted to P6.83 million in 2017, according to the Commission on Audit's Report on Salaries and Allowances.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen remains the least wealthy justice, declaring P2.96 million in net worth, up by more than P479,000 from 2016.

The figures still included justices who are no longer in the court, namely ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (net worth: P27.34 million); retired associate justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. (P22.081 million); and now-Ombudsman Samuel Martires (P41.87 million).

Finally, erstwhile chief justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, who retired in October, declared a net worth of P19.76 million in 2017, up by more than P2 million from 2016.

The summary report does not include the asset declarations of Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Ramon Paul Hernando, who were appointed only this year.

Here is how the net worth of the most powerful figures in the Philippine judiciary fared last year:

1. Francis Jardeleza - P261,076,233.24 (up by P8,910,365.88)
2. Mariano del Castillo - P141,540,867.20 (up by P2,627.767.52)
3. Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa - P123,800,00 (up by P2,250,000.00)
4. Antonio Carpio -  P105,878.242.70 (up by P23,239,422.70)
5. Estela Perlas-Bernabe - P81,299,650.23 (up by P3,001,015.30)
6. Diosdado Peralta - P48,209,631.25 (up by P4,667,800.00)
7. Lucas Bersamin - P44,445,828.00 (up by P3,150,00.00)
8. Samuel Martires (retired, now Ombudsman) - P41,878,000.00 (up by P1,111,000.00)
9. Maria Lourdes Sereno (ousted) - P27,340,711.80 (up by 3,090,770.66)
10. Presbitero Velasco Jr. (retired) - P22,081,205.80 (up by P4,327,732.80)
11. Teresita De Castro (retired) - P19,766,075.12 (up by P2,034,075.12)
12. Noel Tijam - P19,101,193.23 (up by P3,306.428.75)
13. Alexander Gesmundo (appointed in 2017) - P8,245,894.00
14. Andres Reyes, Jr. (appointed in 2017) - P5,699,621.04
15. Marvic Leonen - P2,964,314.57 (up by P479,102.65)

Velasco, Perlas-Bernabe, Jardeleza, Caguioa, and Martires declared zero liabilities.

Carpio, Peralta, Bersamin, Perlas-Bernabe and Reyes are candidates for the chief justice position vacated by De Castro. —KBK, GMA News