Go, though among poorest senators, says he’s ‘richest in service’

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go answers questions about his proposed Malasakit Center Act, which he sponsored last Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. (Photo from his office)

CAPAS, Tarlac, Philippines — Neophyte Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go may be among the poorest of senators, but he said he would compensate for it in his service to the Filipino people.

Go was the second poorest of all the senators and the poorest among the first-time senators, with a net worth of P15.5 million according to his declared statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), which was released Tuesday night.

This is only over P7.8 million higher than that of detained Sen. Leila de Lima.

“Hindi naman po payamanan dito sa Senado. Ayoko pong makipaghabulan sa kanila, ang akin lang is payamanan na lang ng serbisyo sa Pilipino. Pasipagan na lang,” Go told reporters in an interveiw here on Wednesday.

[Here in the Senate, it’s not about who’s the richest. I don’t want to compete with them. Let the basis be the service to the Filipino people.]

He said that if service to the Filipino people would be the basis, he would be the richest among the senators.

“I’m the richest in service. Pasipagan na lang tayo,” the neophyte senator said.

[Let’s just see who’s more hardworking.]

Go, former presidential aide, has often been criticized for being the top campaign spender among the winning senatorial May 2019 senatorial bets.

Based on the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) he submitted to the Commission on Elections last June, Go spent P161,418,299 for his campaign in the May 2019 elections.

But he explained that his campaign was mostly funded by donations — both in cash or in kind.

Sen. Cynthia Villar remained the richest senator with a net worth of P3,534, 412, 797.

Shes followed by boxing champion-turned-lawmaker Manny Pacquiao with P3,005,808,000.

Below is the complete ranking of the senators based on their declared net worth:

1. Cynthia Villar: P3,534,412,797 (as of June 30, 2019)

2. Manny Pacquiao: P3,005,808,000 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

3. Ralph Recto: P555,324,479.82 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

4. Juan Miguel Zubiri: P182,851,570.34 (as of Dec. 31, 2019)

5. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.: P164,203,379.38 (as of June 30, 2019)

6. Sonny Angara: P139,026,597 (ss of June 30, 2019)

7. Franklin Drilon: P97,726,758 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

8. Sherwin Gatchalian: P96,210,607.14 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

9. Grace Poe: P95,693,450.37 (as of June 30, 2019)

10. Pia Cayetano: P82,308,227.36 (as of July 1, 2019)

11. Richard Gordon: P71,285,178.56 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

12. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III – P70,120,700.30 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

13. Lito Lapid: P69,910,000 (as of June 30, 2019)

14. Francis Tolentino – P62,482,000 (as of June 30, 2019)

15. Nancy Binay: P59,911,019 (as of June 30, 2019)

16. Panfilo Lacson: P42,442,341 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

17. Imee Marcos: P29,970,467 (as of June 30, 2019)

18. Aquilino Pimentel III: P29,934,635 (as of June 30, 2019)

19. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa: P28,258,908 (as of June 30, 2019)

20. Joel Villanueva: P26,921,555 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

21. Francis Pangilinan: P16,695,048.17 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

22. Risa Hontiveros: P15,627,176.04 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

23. Christopher “Bong” Go: P15,508,370.82 (as of June 30, 2019)

24. Leila de Lima: P7,706,392.45 (as of Dec. 31, 2018)

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