RICHEST LAWMAKER MISSED ONE QUARTER OF SESSION DAYS
MANILA, MAY 17, 2011 (STANDARD) BOXING champion and Sarranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, the lone billionaire in the House of Representatives, is the richest congressman with a net worth of P1.134 billion, but he was also absent for a quarter of the session days, a summary report issued Sunday showed.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez came in second with a net worth of P624.827 million.
Former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos reported a net worth of P623.6 million, putting her in third place, while Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV ranked fourth with P555.069 million.
Ledesma, who gained notoriety for his poor attendance during the 14th Congress, improved his standing this year, attending 34 of 45 session days in 2010, bettering Pacquiao's and Benitez's attendance record of 33 and 32 session days.
There are only three session days a week, from Monday through Wednesday, with Thursdays and Fridays being allotted for the congressmen's constituents in their respective districts.
Unlike previous Congresses, the House has consistently mustered a quorum with at least 144 members physically present in the plenary hall.
Marcos' nephew, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, was the fifth richest with a net worth of P475.611 million.
Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, with P294.602 million, was sixth, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., with P283.291 million, was seventh. Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco, with P199.593 million, was eighth; Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, with P195.78 million, was ninth; and Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, with P165.996 million, was the 10th richest.
Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo was the 17th richest with a net worth of P140.212 million. Her two sons, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, declared net worths of P95.547 million and P87.263 million, respectively.
Pacquiao, Belmonte, Marcos and Romualdez listed no liabilities.
Belmonte and Marcos scored a perfect attendance.
The others who never missed a session were House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, Reps. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Cavite, Pedro Acharon of South Cotabato and General Santos City, Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, Emmeline Aglipay of DIWA, Rodolfo Albano of Isabela, Tomas Apacible of Batangas, Sergio Apostol of Leyte, Diosdado Arroyo of Camarines Sur, Daisy Avante-Fuentes of South Cotabato, Amado Bagatsing of Manila, Jorge Banal of Quezon City, Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan, Imelda Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay City, Winston Castelo of Quezon City, Jane Castro of Capiz, Enrique Cojuangco of Tarlac, Maximo Dalog of Mt. Province, Raul Daza of Northern Samar, Rachel del Mar of Cebu City, Salvador Escudero III of Sorsogon, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Erico Fabian of Zamboanga City, Rodolfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte, Salvio Fortuno of Camarines Sur, Albert Garcia of Bataan, Roilo Golez of Paranaque City, Agapito Guanlao of Butil, Nur Jaafar of Tawi-Tawi, David Kho of Senior Citizens, Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte, Neil Benedict Montejo and Florencio Noel of An Waray, Angelo Palmones of Agham, Rene Relampagos of Bohol, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro, Herminia Roman of Bataan, Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Raden Sakaluran of Sultan Kudarat, Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, Mel Senen Sarmiento of Western Samar, Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina, Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo City, and Jose Zubiri III of Bukidnon.
While in jail in Hong Kong on drug charges, resigned Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson was listed as being on "official business" for all of 45 session days.
Singson was dropped from the House roster after being found guilty of drug possession in Hong Kong.
Laguna Rep. Maria Evita Arago attended only 14 session days, while Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. Was present in only 16 sessions.
Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, whose net worth of P75,711.57 made him the poorest in the 284-member House, was more conscientious about attendance than Pacquiao, Ledesma and Benitez, attending 42 session days.
Just like the richest men, Mariano declared no liabilities—but he also listed no real properties. Christine F. Herrera
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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