BSP governor highest paid government official in 2011

MANILA, Philippines - Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. was the highest paid government official last year with his salaries and allowances reaching P10.579 million.

This was contained in a Commission on Audit (COA) report on the salaries and allowances of 6,489 government officials in 2011.

Tetangco, who only ranked ninth in 2010 and fourth in 2009, became BSP governor in 2005 and concurrent chairman of the Monetary Board and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

In second place was Edgardo Garcia of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), whose total salaries and allowances amounted to P9.834 million in 2011.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against him before the Sandiganbayan two months ago. He and other former officials of the state-owned banking institution led by former chairman Patricia Sto. Tomas have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the granting of P660 million in behest loans to private firms, including one owned by former trade minister Roberto Ongpin in 2009.

From third to sixth place in COA’s latest list were Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) officials Benedicto Jose Arcinas who received P8.971 million; Henry Rhoel Aguda, P8.348 million; Robert Vergara, P8.320 million; and Nora Saludares, P7.641 million.

Ranking seventh was Luis Sison of the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) with P7.593 million, followed by Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. of  DBP with P7.588 million, Juan de Zuñiga Jr. of BSP with P7.404 million, and Diwa Guinigundo also of DBP with P6.977 million.

The COA report covered 864 government agencies including 143 state-owned firms, 252 national government agencies, and 469 water districts.

“The report aims to promote transparency in government, through the effective monitoring of the annual salaries and allowances received by government officials holding multiple positions as well as determine the total amount of emoluments and benefits received by them from the different government agencies/instrumentalities with which they were affiliated,” COA said explaining its release of the report.

The COA report, copies of which were also sent to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., “complements the present thrust of the government for transparency in its transactions and operations.”

In 2010, state auditors listed former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino as the highest paid government official with some P247.457 million in salaries and allowances received.  

However, a table explaining the amount showed that more than P283.254 million in confidential and intelligence funds were spent by his office during the year.

For 2011, the COA report noted that pursuant to its own Memorandum No. 2012-005 dated April 20, 2012, intelligence and confidential funds are no longer included in the computation “as these are incurred for the maintenance of peace and order and other home defense programs and activities” and because “these do not accrue to the personal benefit of the public official concerned.”

Genuino only ranked 66th  in 2009 with total salaries and allowances received at P3.714 million.

Armand Arreza of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) topped the list during the period with P26.865 million.