Muslim lawmaker biggest spender in House

MANILA, Philippines - A Muslim lawmaker from war-torn Sulu in Mindanao topped the biggest spenders in the House of Representatives with total expenditures of P8.048 million for year 2008.

Rep. Yusop Jikiri was the biggest spender, followed by House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor who reported expenditures of P8.014 million, followed by Davao del Norte Rep. Arrel Olano with P7.848 million.

In fourth spot was Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra, chairman of the House committee on agriculture, with P7.807 million. Fifth was Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, who spent P7.6 million for the same year.

The top five congressmen’s spending was based on the itemized list of amounts paid and expenses each House member has incurred from January to December 2008, in compliance with the disclosure requirements of law.

Negros Occidental Rep. Julio “Jules” Ledesma IV, the House’s absentee lawmaker, managed to spend P5.782 million despite his frequent absences during session.

Most Frugal

In contrast, the most frugal among lawmakers were Abono Rep. Robert Estrella who spent P5.703 million, Rep. Teodulo Coquilla of Eastern Samar (P5.793 million), Buhay Rep. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela, P5.793 million, and Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas with P5.8 million.

Meanwhile, House members who came in only in June 2008 were Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and Yacap Rep. Carol Lopez, with total expenditures of P3.1 million and P3.8 million, respectively.

Four legislators who died in 2008 also had relatively low expenses - Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran with P2.6 million, Misamis Oriental Rep. Danilo Lagbas with P3.7 million, Mt. Province Rep. Victor Dominguez with P1.2 million and Coop-Nattco Rep. Guillermo Cua with P6.7 million.

Beltran died May 20, Lagbas June 8, Dominguez Feb. 8 and Cua Dec. 17, all in 2008. Mariano, the second nominee in the farmers’ group Anakpawis, has since taken over the post vacated by Beltran.

Frequent travelers

Among the lawmakers who spent a lot on travel were Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who reported spending a total of P1.188 million, followed by Zambales Rep. Antonio Diaz, P1.013 million; Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, P916,736; Makati Rep. Teddyboy Locsin, P868,778 and Bulacan Rep. Reylina Nicolas, P741,040.

Legislators who spent the least for foreign travel were Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales with P23,356, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, P23,684; and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya with P40,375. 

All 268 House members have availed of their local travel allowances that vary from P1 million to as low as P684,000. Others, on the other hand, didn’t avail of foreign travel allowances or at least didn’t declare it officially, although some may have traveled on their personal account.

Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., ousted as speaker in February 2008 and a known globetrotter, said he spent only P590,850.50 for travel but spent a total of P7.2 million for 2008.

Speaker Prospero Nograles, who succeeded him, reported “no foreign travel” for 2008, but spent also the same amount of P7.2 million for the same year. It has been two years since he assumed the House post.

Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, the richest House member with at least P1 billion in assets, said she didn’t go abroad in 2008 and reported a slightly smaller expenditure of P6.9 million. 

All lawmakers, including militants, have maximized or availed of their P300,000 annual allocation for “consultants.”

The same is true with the allocation of P540,000 each for research, P500,400 each for public affairs, P600,000 each for MOE (maintenance and other expenses), P1 million each for district staff allocation and P189,600 each for communication expenses.

All legislators - except for Jikiri, Kalinga Rep. Manuel Agyao and Nograles - made use of their P180,000 allocation for supplies. Jikiri and Agyao spent P315,000 each while Nograles reported spending P240,000 for the same purpose.