Militant congressmen also belong to millionaires' club

MANILA, Philippines - Contrary to public perception, even members of the militant bloc of the House of Representatives belong to the millionaires’ club, based on their annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Representatives Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna and Liza Maza of women’s group Gabriela – who both lost in the May 10 senatorial elections – are millionaires themselves, with P2.4 million and P2.8 million net worth, respectively.

Ocampo’s Bayan Muna colleague lawyer Neri Colmenares declared a net worth of P1.1 million. Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who nearly made it to the Senate, has a total asset of P4.9 million.

Only four of their colleagues in the progressive bloc are non-millionaires – Anakpawis Reps. Rafael Mariano, dubbed as the poorest with only P42,219, and Joel Maglunsod (P145,000); Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño (P118,000); and Raymond Palatino of Kabataan (P150,000).

Even the nemesis of these left-wing legislators, Bantay Rep. Jovito Palparan and Anad Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr., also belong to the millionaires’ club, having obtained a net worth of P3.5 million and P5.5 million, respectively.

Palparan, who also lost in his senatorial bid, has earned the moniker “butcher” for allegedly being the brains behind extra-judicial killings in the country, particularly in Bulacan, where he served before his retirement.

Also in the millionaires’ club is the youngest member of the House, 28-year-old Western Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan, who declared a total net worth of P5.6 million.

The oldest legislator – 84-year-old Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu, a lawyer by profession - has P20 million in assets with P13 million liabilities. His net worth dipped significantly to P11.5 million from a high of P31.5 million in December 2008.

Of the 270 House members, only eight are non-millionaires, including Reps. Jonathan de la Cruz of Abakada Guro, Adam Relson Jala of Bohol, Narciso Santiago III of Alliance for Rural Concerns, and Raymond Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

The four others are Palatino, Maglunsod, Casiño and Mariano. And of the total 52 party-list representatives, only seven are non-millionaires.

Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, known for showing up for work on a bicycle that carried a special “8” protocol plate and who listed farming as his profession, is worth P9.7 million. He authored bills on lemon law, which seeks to protect consumers from manufacturers of defective cars.

Thirty-four-year-old lawyer Abigail Binay of Makati City, daughter of vice president-elect and outgoing Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, has a net worth of P36.8 million, or an increase of P7.4 million from P29.4 million in December 2008.

Rich sis-in-law

The sister-in-law of President Arroyo has turned out to be the second richest party-list member of the House of Representatives, next to Buhay Rep. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela who has consistently topped the list of the most affluent sectoral representatives in the chamber.

Neophyte Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo of party-list Kasangga, who entered the House in April 2009, declared a total net worth of P88.6 million with “no liabilities.” She is a younger sister of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Among the top 10 richest party-list lawmakers are Coscolluela, who declared a net worth of P140 million with P5 million liabilities, followed by Ms. Arroyo; third is Rep. Daryl Grace Abayon of AT, with a net worth of P47.9 million and P23.5 million liabilities. Abayon is a daughter of former Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon.

Fourth is Nicanor Briones of Agap (P44.243 million), fifth is Ulpiano Sarmiento of A-Teacher (P44.237 million), sixth is Carol Lopez of Yacap (P40 million), and seventh is Catalina Leonen-Pizzaro of ABS (P38.4 million).

Ranked eighth is Coscolluela’s colleague, Buhay Rep. Rene Velarde, son of Bro. Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai charismatic group, who declared a net worth of P37.1 million, with P749,621.15 liabilities.

Ninth is Salvador Britanico of Banat (P22.5 million) and last, Cesar Cobrador (P21.8 million).

‘Poorest’ lawmakers

Mariano, Casiño, Maglungsod, and Palatino are the four “poorest” among the congressmen.

Fifth is lawyer Raymond Democrito Mendoza of the TUCP. He is the husband of governor-elect Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, an outgoing congresswoman from South Cotabato.

Sixth is Rep. Narciso Santiago III of the Alliance for Rural Concerns, who declared a net worth of P700,000. He is the son of Sen. Miriam Santiago and former interior undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr.

Seventh is Bohol Rep. Adam Relson Jala with P782,000, followed by Jonathan de la Cruz of Abakada Guro with P800,000. Bayan Muna’s Colmenares is ninth with P1.1 million, and the 10th poorest is Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Anak Mindanao, with P1.4 million.