Del Rosario Remains Richest Cabinet Member; Luistro Still Poorest

(PNA) – Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario remains the richest Cabinet member while Education Secretary Armin Luistro is still the poorest based on their 2014 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) released by Malacañang on Wednesday.

Del Rosario reported a net worth of PhP838,809,918.82 or PhP73.5 million higher compared with his 2013 SALN with zero liability.

On the other hand, Luistro’s net worth has increased by PhP37,672 but remains the poorest Cabinet member of President Benigno Aquino III with only PhP471,064.46 net worth in 2014.

Del Rosario’s net worth came from his businesses that include banking, real estate, insurance, shipping, telecommunications, consumer products, retail, pharmaceutical, and food industries.

The second richest Cabinet member is Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima whose net worth increased from PhP278.94 million in 2013 to PhP298.94 million in 2014, followed by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. who is relegated to third spot with PhP283.4 million.

Completing the top five richest Cabinet members are fourth placer Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II whose net worth declined from PhP211.07 million in 2013 to PhP202.08 million in 2014, and fifth placer Trade Secretary Gregorio Domingo whose net worth also went down from PhP150.6 million to PhP148.6 million.

Other Cabinet secretaries and their net worth from richest to poorest are: Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, PhP134.24 million; Carlos Jericho Petilla of Energy, PhP122.09 million; Chief Legal Counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, PhP117.17 million; Joseph Emilio Abaya of Transportation, PhP108.1 million; Enrique Ona of Health, PhP93.69 million;

Proceso Alcala of Agriculture, PhP91.170 million; Regolio Singson of Public Works and Highways, PhP82.55 million; Mario Montejo of Science and Technology, PhP61.1 million; Francis Tolentino of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), PhP41.95 million; Patricia Licuanan of Commission on Higher Education, Php39.4 million; Florencio Abad of Budget and Management, PhP33.81 million; Ramon Jesus Paje of Environment and Natural Resources, PhP31.98 million; Arsenio Balisacan of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), PhP25.26 million; Voltaire Gazmin of National Defense, PhP24.7 million; Joel Villanueva of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), PhP24.39 million;

Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad, PhP23.94 million; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., PhP18.1 million; National Security Council Chief Cesar Garcia, PhP17.3 million; Communications Chief Herminio Coloma Jr., PhP16.39 million; Jose Eliso Rocamora of National Anti-Poverty Commission, PhP15.6 million; Luwalhati Antonio of Mindanao Development Authority, PhP15.48 million; Virgilio delos Reyes of Agrarian Reform, PhP13.5 million; Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, PhP12.9 million; Yasmin Lao of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, PhP12.02 million;

Presidential Adviser on Food Security Francis Pangilinan, PhP11.2 million; Manuel Mamba of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, PhP8.9 million; Political Adviser Ronaldo Llamas, PhP6.39 million; Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, PhP4.88 million; Rosalinda Baldoz of Labor and Employment, PhP4.86 million; Corazon Juliano-Soliman of Social Welfare and Development, PhP4.5 million; and Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Deles, PhP4.1 million. (PNA) SCS/JFM