House deputy speaker and TUCP Rep. Mendoza declares P35.96M net worth in SALN

TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza on Monday became the first of the House of Representatives’ deputy speakers to publicly release a copy of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), in which he declared his net worth to be at P35.96 million.

Based on Mendoza’s SALN as of Dec. 31, 2024, the lawmaker has real properties – seven parcels of agricultural lands and two residential properties – worth P1.96 million.

His personal properties included four vehicles and shares of stocks worth P34 million.

Mendoza did not declare any liability in his SALN.

He declared a business interest and connection with the Raymond C. Mendoza/MENCA Development Corporation, an agriculture, aquaculture, resort and realty development firm in Liloan, Cebu.

In his SALN, Mendoza listed four of his relatives in the government service: his wife Emmylou Mendoza, the governor of Cotabato; his daughter Ma. Alana Santos, representative of Quezon City’s 3rd District; his father-in-law Rogelio Taliño, mayor of Carmen, Cotabato; and his brother-in-law Roger Taliño, the vice mayor of Carmen, Cotabato.

In a statement on Monday, the House deputy speaker declared four more relatives in government positions.

His brother, Michael Mendoza, was appointed in August 2024 as a member representing the workers’ group in the Social Security Commission of the Social Security System.

His niece, Rochella Taliño Taray, is vice governor of Cotabato while another niece, Yedda Romualdez, is TINGOG Party-list solon. Romualdez is the wife of ex-Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez.

Mendoza expressed his support for the public disclosure of SALNs of public officials, saying lifestyle checks founded on honesty and transparency are crucial in confronting and preventing corruption in the government.

“Let us innovate by embedding SALN general information on official government websites in the spirit of open and accountable governance. The Filipino people elected us to serve them, hence we owe our people, our voters, and our workers nothing less than full transparency,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News