Mocha Uson declares P4.2 million debts

MANILA, Philippines — Communications assistant secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson’s liabilities exceeded her assets last year while majority of her fellow officials in the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) became richer.

In her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Uson declared P3.65 million worth of assets and P4.205 million worth of liabilities for a negative net worth of P553,044.40 as of Dec. 31 last year.

Uson, a former entertainer who was appointed to the PCOO in May 2017, reported real properties worth P3.36 million and personal properties worth P290,000.

In documents obtained by The STAR, the assistant secretary declared two real properties: a residential condominium unit in Mandaluyong City worth P1.58 million and another one in Sta. Cruz, Manila worth P1.78 million. She listed three cell phones, a Macbook Air, an Ipad, headphones, two Ray-Ban eyewear, jewelry and 10 pairs of Nike rubber shoes as her personal properties. 

Uson owed a total of P4.2 million to two banks as of last year. It appears that she used her borrowed money to buy condominium units because she wrote “Celadon Condo” and “AVIDA Centra” on the spaces under the nature of liabilities. 

But most of the PCOO undersecretaries and assistant secretaries became richer last year, as seven of 12 senior officials whose SALNs were available reported a growth in their net worth.

Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III posted the biggest percentage increase as his net worth ballooned by more than 140 percent from P2.62 million in 2016 to P6.3 million last year. Cualoping, the agency’s chief brand integrator, declared assets worth P9.04 million and liabilities worth P2.74 million in 2017. 

Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Joseph Lawrence Garcia’s net worth jumped by more than 69 percent from P1.37 million two years ago to P2.32 million in 2017. Garcia had the lowest net worth among PCOO senior officials in 2016. 

Assistant Secretary for Operations and Legislative Affairs Ana Maria Banaag’s net worth grew by 60.2 percent from P2.768 million two years ago to P4.436 million last year. 

Undersecretary for Media Accreditation and former TV5 reporter Feducia Mia Lucas declared a net worth of P3.55 million as of last year, up by 51 percent from P2.35 million in 2016. 

Assistant Secretary for Content and Messaging Rachel Queenie Rodulfo’s net worth increased by 12.21 percent from P3.03 million in 2016 to P3.4 million last year. 

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, whose wife Alelee is a member of the Aguilar political clan of Las Piñas, declared a net worth of P158.8 million in his SALN for 2017, higher by more than four percent from P152.27 million in 2016. Andanar remains the wealthiest official in the agency. 

George Apacible, undersecretary for Good Governance, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations and Finance, reported a net income of P48.41 million in his 2017 SALN, up by two percent from P47.449 million in 2016. 

At least one PCOO senior official, assistant secretary for Policy Michel Kristian Ablan, became poorer last year. Ablan’s net worth as of Dec. 31 was P1.8 million, down by more than 71 percent from P6.39 million in 2016. 

Three PCOO senior officials who were appointed or promoted last year are millionaires. 

Assistant Secretary for Media Accreditation and Relations and former TV5 reporter Florentino Loyola declared a net worth of P4.17 million in 2017. Loyola was promoted to assistant secretary from director in July 2017. 

Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Marvin Gatpayat reported a net worth of P3.599 million while Undersecretary for New Media and External Affairs Lorraine Badoy declared a net worth of P2.556 million in 2017. 

The SALN of resigned Assistant Secretary Noel Puyat was not among the documents released by Malacañang.