Finance chief richest in Cabinet
FINANCE SECRETARY Cesar Purisima will leave government service as the richest Cabinet member in the outgoing Aquino administration, while Education Secretary Armin Luistro is the poorest.
The Malacañang Records Office has released the 2015 statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) of President Aquino’s official family.
However, the released SALNs did not include those of Transportation Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya, Foreign Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas, Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. and acting National Economic and Development Authority Director- General Emmanuel Esguerra.
Del Rosario is former richest
Until his retirement early this year, former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was the wealthiest among the Cabinet members for five years, with a SALN that showed nearly a billion peso financial worth mostly from his corporate shares.
In 2010, Del Rosario reported his net worth at P627,090,000, which increased to P838,809,919.
President Aquino’s SALN in 2014 was P68.3 million. His 2015 SALN has yet to be released.
Until its final year, the Aquino Cabinet remained practically a millionaires’ club.
Purisima listed his SALN as P301,328,806, followed by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez with P289,066,800; and Health Secretary Janette Garin whose net worth is P141,571,768.95.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has P92,985,163.41; Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, P88,521,628.38; Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, P63,138,153.24; Commission on Filipino Overseas head Imelda Nicolas-Lewis, P44,675,258.87; Commission on Higher Education chair Patricia Licuanan, P40,443,888. 31; Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, P34,808,911.39; and Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, P33,692,420.60.
The “poorest” Cabinet member next to Luistro is Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz P2,269,992.26.
10 ‘poorest’
Rounding up the 10 “poorest” in the Aquino Cabinet are Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, P4,709,000; Peace Adviser Teresita Deles, P6,156,574.22; Political Adviser Ronald Llamas, P7,952,666.95; MMDA OIC Emerson Carlos, P10,075,000; Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada, P10,772,247.67; National Commission on Muslim Filipinos head Yasmin Lao, P12,812,224; Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, P12,997,905.42; and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, who has P13,441,440.79.
The other Cabinet members had the following SALNs: Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje, P33,280,000; National Anti-Poverty Commission head Jose Eliseo Rocamora, P27,442,756.69; Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad P26,310,000; Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, P25,143,378; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., P18,532,886.23; National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia Jr., P17, 990, 000; and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., P16,390,000.