Based on declared SALN: Luigi richest Mandaue City official

CEBU, Philippines - With a net worth of P18.375 million as of December 2016, Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing is the richest among elected government officials of Mandaue City.

Quisumbing, who declared no real properties, said the bulk of the P15.050 million is from stocks in a company called Equity Paid.

He also declared cash in savings, including his personal savings account with his wife amounting to P2.7 million. Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, meanwhile declared P5.067 million worth of assets, based on his declared Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN)

Both Quisumbing and Fortuna have zero liabilities.

Fortuna, whose address is listed in Barangay Guizo, owns a residential condominium in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. He has shares of stocks in PE Fortuna Holdings.

Among the city councilors, lawyer Nenita Ceniza-Layese is the richest, with declared SALN worth of P6.675 million. The poorest city councilor, on the other hand, is Elstone Dabon, who declared a total net worth of P80,000 in real property (agricultural land) in Sogod, town.

He has a house and lot in Maguikay, Mandaue City, but did not specify the amount citing that he only inherited this from his family. He has no other details declared in his SALN.

Cynthia Remedios is the second richest city councilor with a net worth of P4.105 million. She has declared P4.318 million worth of assets and P212,134 in liabilities.

Following Remedios is Councilor Carmelino Del Mar, who declared a total P3.324 million. His assets are worth P3.744 million while his liabilities amount to P976,000.

The fourth richest councilor is Malcolm Sanchez, who declared a net worth of P3.1 million. He has P3.3 million worth of assets and P200,000 liabilities.

Councilor Nilo Seno, on the other hand, declared a total net worth of P2.37 million, making him the fifth richest councilor. He has assets reaching P3.77 million and liabilities totaling P1.4 million, while

Councilor Demetrio Cortes declared a net worth of P2.103 million.

With P1.015 million in net worth, Councilor Ben Basiga is the seventh richest councilor. He has total assets of P2 million and liabilities of P985,000.

Councilor Raul Kevin Cabahug, who has no real properties declared and zero liabilities, recorded a net worth of P1 million. He listed a Fortuner, Vokswagen, gadgets, and jewelries among his assets.

Councilor Elmer Cabahug and ex-officio Councilor Ernie Manatad has no records available at the City Legal Office.

The copies of the SALN were consolidated by the City Legal Office and were already submitted at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Public officials and employees are required to submit their SALN every year under Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

They have to declare under oath their assets and liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.

The SALN is part of the government policy to uphold transparency and accountability of public officials.

It also allows the anti-graft office to monitor the financial holdings of public officials in case of circumstances of ill-gotten wealth.

Based on the statements submitted by the elected officials to the Ombudsman, most of the Mandaue City elected officials have relatives working in the government service.

Fortuna and the nine city councilors listed their brothers, sisters, cousins, cousins-in-law and sisters-in-law relatives in government who worked with them as security agents under the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and as job order employees.

Quisumbing has no relatives working at City Hall, as declared in his SALN.

Under Republic Act No. 6713, all state workers, whether regular or of temporary status, are required to file their SALN on or before April 30 of every year for the period ending December 31 of the previous year.

Failure to file the SALN is punishable with suspension of one to six months for the first offense and dismissal from service for the second offense.  (FREEMAN)