DFA chief richest among Aquino’s men

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario receives warm embraces from his grandchildren. SENATE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—-Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario is the richest among President Benigno Aquino’s men while Education Secretary Armin Luistro has the least wealth, as shown by statements of assets, liabilities and net worth provided by Malacañang.

Del Rosario pegged his net worth at P657.8 million while Luistro declared his at P739,000.

The country’s top diplomat now in the midst of dealing with the incursions of China into Philippine territory declared P82,663,330 worth of real property and P575,171,425 worth of personal and other property.

With no liability, Del Rosario’s net worth is pegged at P657,834,755.

Luistro, who’s leading the government’s expanded basic education program with additional two years before college, declared no real property.

The Education secretary just stated his cash on hand and in bank accounts worth a total of P738,006.14. His savings account is at P135,249.82 while his current account is at P603,756.32. He also has no debt.

A far second and third in the wealthiest to poorest list of Cabinet members are Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima with more than P261 million in net worth and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez with P238 million.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II declared a net worth of P183 million; Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, P153 million; and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, P117 million, rounding out the Cabinet secretaries with more than P100 million in net worth.

The rest of the Cabinet secretaries with and respective net worth are as follows: Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, P84,154,190; Health Secretary Enrique Ona, P80,786,666; Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, P55,584,596;

Commission on Higher Education chief Patricia Licuanan, P48,908,936; Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, P40,939,568; Chief presidential legal counsel Eduardo De Mesa, P34,793,650; Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, P29,655,959;

Energy Secretary Ramon Paje, P29,300,000; National Anti-Poverty Commission head Joel Rocamora, P25,379,119; Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, P23,505,542; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority head Francis Tolentino, P22,540,381;

Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles, P21,832,293; Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., P17,079,709; Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, P16,800,000; National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, 15,600,000;

Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma at P14,740,000; Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, P14,255,692; Mindanao Development Authority head Luwalhati Antonino at P14,095,000;

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda at P13,760,536; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Manuel Mamba at P13,155,000; Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo at P9,067,000; Communications Development head Ramon Carandang at P7,545,000;

Presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas at P5,017,800; Justice Secretary Leila de Lima at P3,618,000; Social Welfare chief Corazon Soliman at P3,000,000; and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz at P924,206.47.