Richest barangay chief has networth of P6.9M

CEBU, Philippines - Based on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government for 2011, the poorest barangay official in Talisay City is a councilman from barangay Dumlog with a networth of P600 while the richest is the barangay captain of Bulacao with a networth of P6.980 million.

Of the 22 barangay captains and 154 barangay councilmen in Talisay, barangay Dumlog Councilman Gilbert Cañizares is the poorest official with a networth of P600 while the barangay captain, Association of Barangay Captain president Charles Basillote, declared P94,000 in SALN.

Dumlog falls under the average income barangay category, with the barangay captain receiving an honorarium of P16,484.

The councilmen receive an honorarium of P12,000.

Cañizares declared only a cellphone, pants and polo shirts worth P14,600, and liabilities of P12,000.  

Basillote, who also sits as an ex-officio in the city council, declared as personal properties clothes, a cellular phone, appliances, a personal computer worth P174,000, and P80,000 as liability.

Other barangay officials who have a networth below the half million-peso mark include barangay Cansojong captain Nicasio Hermosa with P110,000; barangay Tapul captain Jose Juarez, P108,400; barangay Mohon captain Dario Villaver, P125,000; barangay Biasong captain Marlowe Dagohoy, P264,000 and barangay Maghaway captain Victor Cabatas, P430,000.

Barangay Bulacao captain Raul Cabigas-Cabañero is the richest village chief, with a networth of P6.980 million.

He has a lot and buildings in Bulacao amounting to P4.5 million and personal properties such as a vehicle and home appliances worth P720,000. He has no liabilities.

Barangay Jaclupan captain Joel Orbiso has P3.121 million in assets and no liabilities.

Poblacion barangay captain Teodoro Belleza declared P2.510 million; barangay Tanke captain Perla Cabones, P2.150 million; Antonio Cabrera of San Roque, P1.540 million; barangay Lawaan captain Delia Ybañez, P1.384 million; and barangay Linao captain Ofelia Ylanan, the wife of city councilor Valeriano Ylanan, P1.5 million.

All public officials and employees were reminded by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) on or before the April 30, 2012 deadline.

SALN filing is a requirement mandating all in the government service to declare their financial status.

It is a comprehensive record of a government worker’s assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests and financial connections, including those of their spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old.

The penalty for non-filing under Section 11 of Republic Act 6713 is imprisonment of not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding P5,000, or both, at the discretion of the court, plus disqualification to hold public office.

The SALN should be filed within 30 days after assumption of office, statement of which must be reckoned as of his first day of service; on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, statement of which must be reckoned as of the end of the preceding year; or within 30 days after separation from service, statement of which must be reckoned as of his last day of office.