Chiz P5 M poorer after breakup with wife
Re- electionist Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero released yesterday to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) showing he is about P5 million poorer after his formal breakup with his wife Cristine Elizabeth Flores last year.
Escudero also reiterated a challenge to his peers in the Senate and candidates for the elections next month to execute bank secrecy waivers to give the Office of the Ombudsman a free hand to look into questionable bank accounts both here and overseas.
Escudero’s total net worth was pegged at P4,017,082.09, which are broken down into P900,000 cash, P920,000 worth of jewelry and other personal properties, P213,441.29 partnership, vehicles that include a 1995 Range Rover Classic worth P1 million, 1969 BMW 2002 worth P333,640.80 and a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser worth P650,000.
Barely a year after his marriage with Cristine was annulled by the courts, Escudero’s net worth went down from P9,867,082.09 in 2011.
The senator also reported in his SALN - a copy of which he released to media - that the joint filing of the SALN is not applicable now, apparently due to the annulment.
Escudero’s net worth does not include yet the settlement of the estate of his late father, former Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, which “is still in process.”
The senator’s SALN also showed real properties placed under the name of his five- year- old twins Maria Cecillia and Joaquin, by virtue of a court order issued in the petition for nullity of marriage.
These refer to the two condominium units in Quezon City with respective assessed values of P570,860 and P431,960 and acquisition values of P1.63 million and P1.234 million.
Cash amounting to P520,000 each were also placed under the name of the two children.
He listed Escudero Marasigan law office and the Vallente & E.H Villareal as counsels for business interests and financial connections.
He also identified three relatives in the government service, namely, Antonio Escudero Jr. and Ramon Escudero ( paternal uncles) and a cousin, Krunimar Escudero.
Along with his SALN submission, Escudero said senators and other candidates in the May 13 elections should execute bank secrecy waivers.
“Even in the absence of a law, candidates particularly those running for Senate seats have the obligation to execute bank secrecy waivers to observe the standard that was applied to former Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate impeachment court in issuing a guilty verdict that led to Corona’s removal,” Escudero said.
Legislators and those aspiring to be members of Congress would adhere to the principles of transparency by filing their SALN and a waiver on secrecy of bank accounts, Escudero said.
He said candidates for elective positions should make it a commitment to Filipino voters the execution of the secrecy waiver as proof of their honest intent in rendering public service and as an assurance against theft of public funds.
“The challenge on transparency should not be treated as child’s play. Those who consider themselves as leaders do not need to be prodded to do something right,” Escudero said.
“I think signing the secrecy waiver is an obligation that each of us should do in the coming days prior to the elections,” Escudero said.
“Those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear from my transparency challenge,” he added.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was the first senator to file his SALN last April 16, showing his net worth at P4.432 million, which includes P1.9 million in cash, P425,000 worth of jewelry, furniture and antiques, P220,000 investment (private insurance premium), a Kia Rio car worth P675,000 and a Toyota Grandia worth P1.89 million.
He said his total family income is about P1.9 million with his P420,000 salary as a senator, P600,000 salary of his wife, P600,000 donation from his family and interests from AFPSLAI, PNSLAI and PAFCPIC.
The senator’s wife, Arlene, is a professor at National University.
Compared to his SALN, Trillanes’ net worth grew this year by several hundred thousands from P3.897 million in 2011.
Trillanes listed a 240- square meter residential lot in Cavite, 306- sqm residential lot in Antipolo City, a 60-sqm condominium unit and a parking lot in Parañaque and a 1,000-sqm lot in General Santos City as part of his real properties. These properties have a combined acquisition cost of P5.902 million.
Trillanes, who is seeking re-election, also placed his total liabilities at P6.58 million, which includes a P1.8-million housing loan with Pag-IBIG Fund, P2.2- million housing loan with the Bank of the Philippine Islands ( BPI) and P1.58- million car loan for two vehicles with PSBank. He also listed P1- million in personal loans.
Meanwhile, Escudero topped the recent mock polls among students and personnel of Ateneo de Davao University, after he had slipped in the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
A statement from the office of Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said the top three favorites were Escudero and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of Team PNoy, and former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
The Ateneo de Davao research council conducted the survey through an online questionnaire and face- toface interviews.
The other preferred candidates were Sen. Loren Legarda (Team PNoy), Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile ( UNA), Grace Poe (Team PNoy), Bam Aquino (Team PNoy), former Akbayan party-list Rep. Riza Hontiveros ( Team PNoy), Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel (Team PNoy), former senator Richard Gordon (UNA), Nancy Binay (UNA), Sen. Antonio Trillianes (Team PNoy), San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada (UNA), and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar ( Team PNoy).
Among the university’s non- teaching personnel, their senatorial picks were Escudero, Cayetano, Pimentel, Legarda, Ejercito Estrada, Zubiri, Trillianes, re- electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan ( UNA), Hontiveros, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara ( Team PNoy), and Aquino.
In the congressional race, respondents picked Nograles of the first district of Davao City and re- electionist Rep. Isidro Ungab of the third district as their overwhelming choice.
In the second district, a tight race is emerging between incumbent Rep. Mylene Garcia and Joji Bian, although Garcia is seen to be slightly ahead of her opponent.
Former mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is running for mayor again to replace his daughter Sara, and son Paulo, who is a councilor and his vice mayoral team mate, are running unopposed. –