Erap richest MM mayor; Binay among poorest

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is the richest local chief executive of Metro Manila, based on his 2013 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) that he recently submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Estrada declared he is worth P242.834 million, a big chunk of which included more than P151.442 million in cash or its equivalent.

Estrada said he has real properties worth P95.533 million, including an orchard and residences in Pagsanjan, Laguna and Iba, Zambales and his P91.033-million house in Sampaloc, Manila.

He also declared other personal properties like investments worth P31.596 million, vehicles valued at P10 million, appliances, furniture and antiques worth P8.203 million; and firearms, gadgets and other personal effects valued at P2.857 million.

Estrada listed P59.5 million in liabilities in the nature of a bank loan from Asian United Bank.

Pasig City Mayor Maria Belen Eusebio, based on her SALN obtained by The STAR from the Office of the Ombudsman, is the second richest local chief executive of Metro Manila. She declared a total net worth of P150.014 million.

Eusebio said she owns real properties worth P53.487 million and other personal properties valued at P94.527 million, including investments of P51.507 million.

Eusebio’s husband Roberto, the former mayor of Pasig whom she replaced, was the richest mayor in Metro Manila last year before Estrada became Manila mayor after beating Alredo Lim, who had a net worth of P24.150 million when he lost his mayoral bid in May 2013.

All the 12 other Metro Manila mayors whose SALNs were made accessible to media are also millionaires, with Navotas’ John Reynald Tiangco being third richest with assets of P149.498 million and Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos in fourth place with a net worth of P142.119 million.

In fifth is Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar who has a net worth of P71.745 million, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is sixth with P51.115 million, and in seventh place is Malabon Mayor Antolin Oreta III with P48.640 million.

San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez is eighth richest local chief executive with P39.074 million, Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez in ninth place with P26.730 million.

Pateros Mayor Jaime Medina is in 10th with P19.897 million and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. is 11th with P19.575 million.

Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan is in 12th place with a net worth of P12.385 million that includes two real properties located in Caloocan and Quezon City valued at P8.4 million and other personal properties worth P10.485 million, including P4.2 million in cash and a Land Cruiser worth P4.035 million.

The second poorest among the Metro Manila mayors is Pasay City’s Antonino Calixto who declared a net worth of only P7.401 million, which includes P1.741 million in real properties in Tagaytay, Cavite, Las Piñas and Pasay.

The poorest chief executive in the metropolis is Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman who declared a net worth of P3.310 million. De Guzman was also the poorest mayor last year.

Only the SALNs of three Metro Manila mayors were not available for unspecific reasons and they include Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano.

Last year, The STAR reported that Eusebio, Tiangco and Abalos were the richest local chief executives of Metro Manila based on their 2012 SALNs.