Two Cebu congressmen bare wealth document, others wait

Out of nine Cebu congressmen, only two readily gave a copy of their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) when requested by CEBU DAILY NEWS.

The two did so even before House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte called to fellow legislators to make their statements public in the aftermath of the ouster of Chief Justice Renato Corona who was found guilty by Senate acting as an impeachment court over his failure to fully disclose his wealth, particularly cash assets.

Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of the 6th district who e-mailed a copy of his SALN yesterday declared a net worth of P15,800,360.

The bulk or P15 million is from stocks in a company called Equity Paid.

Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI of the 5th district who furnished a copy last week recorded a net worth of P13,609,000, with three parcels of land inherited in Negros Occidental, a residential lot in Cebu City and P3.485 million in cash.

The SALN is a public document which government personnel are supposed to file every year under oath.

The record promotes transparency in government and is considered one basis to check whether a public official or employee has enriched himself during his term of office.

Requests by CDN to release copies were made by text, phone calls and e-mails to all six Cebu province congressmen, two from Cebu City and one from the lone district of Lapu-Lapu.

Two solons, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of the 3rd district and Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of the 4th district asked for more time to release their documents saying they had to clarify “procedures” with the House of Representatives about a period for making “corrections”.

CDN is still waiting for other legislators to reply.

Following the Senate’s 20-3 vote to convict Corona and a challenge by Sen. Francis Escudero for legislators to sign a waiver on public officers’ bank accounts, the question on the truthfulness of the SALN is now focused on lawmakers.

In Manila, Speaker Belmonte said they have yet to release all lawmakers’ SALNS but maintained that “personally I am willing to reveal my SALN.”

He said they would discuss the matter soon, adding that they would have to use their best efforts “for everyone to do it.”

Congressmen are required to file their SALN with the Secretary General of the House of Representatives in Quezon City. There are no confidentiality rules about the records but obtaining a copy requires persistent follow up and resources to get the papers out.

On Tuesday night, Belmonte said that members of the House of Representatives would adhere to the same high standard of transparency and public accountability they demanded of Corona who was removed from office by the Senate impeachment court for non-disclosure of his true wealth.

Belmonte said the Corona conviction reaffirmed at least two principles in public service — that every public official must live by a certain standard, and that the same standard should apply equally to all, regardless of their position in government.

“The message is very strong – that people have high expectations from people in government – and the Chief Justice’s conviction proved that these institutions, they do work. Remember, they do work, and they are able to do their own functions despite difficult situations,” he said.

Rep. Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district asked for more time.

“I think there’s a procedure in the House and still under review. I’ll let you know. The House reviews submitted SALNs for possible corrections, which is allowed. That’s why the Speaker said they could not be released as yet,” he said in a text message to CDN yesterday.

Rep. Salimbangon of the 4th district in a phone interview said congressmen were given a period for amendments of their SALN.

Salimbangon assured he would release it “after” this period.

The SALN is prepared under oath and filed every year by public officials and employees as required by law.

The document contains a declaration of assets (i.e., land, vehicles, etc) and liabilities (i.e., loans, debts, etc), including business and financial interests, of an official/employee, of his or her spouse, and of his or her unmarried children under 18 years old still living in their parents’ households.

The submission of a SALN is required under Article XI Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713 which is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

It includes a waiver authorizing the Ombudsman or his authorized representatives to attain documents that may show assets, liabilities, net worth, business interests, and financial connections from all appropriate government agencies.

Filing of the SALN must be done within 30 days after assumption of office and every year after that on or before April 30. It also has to be filed within 30 days after separation from the service.

Quisumbing, a first-term congressman and grandson of industrialist Norberto Quisumbing Jr., listed no real properties or liabilities in his SALN.

He reported personal and other properties which include stocks in Equity Paid with an acquisition cost of P15,050,000.

He declared a total value of P200,360 for “Others (gadgets)”, jewelry worth P50,000 and “cash in savings” worth P500,000.

Quisumbing listed two business interests, Auto Solution Inc. and Transfarm Finance and Leasing Company, where he said he’s been a director since 2008.

The bachelor congressman, whose district covers Mandaue City and Consolacion, said he has no relatives in public office.

Durano, another first-term congressman, from the prominent political clan in Danao City signed his 2012 SALN with his spouse Carmel.

He listed four real properties with a total value of P3,313,210. Three are residential/commercial properties in Kabankalan and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental acquired by “inheritance”.

One residential property was purchased in 1997 in Northown Homes in Cebu City for P3.15 million, according to the document.

Durano listed cash of P3,485,000, vehicles worth P5,300,000 and investments in the amount of P7,150,000.

While Quisumbing said he had no liabilities, Durano declared he had P2,326,000 in loans/accounts payable.

Durano listed three companies as his business interests – MLD Dreamhomes Inc. in Cebu City and Colegio de San Antonio in Danao City where he is a stockholder, and 2M Shell Service Station in Danao City where he is the propietor.

He also declared the company of his wife Carmel, Apple Pie Trading in Cebu City, where she is the proprietor.

Durano said he has seven relatives in government service – his father Ramon Durano III who is vice mayor of Danao City, his uncle Ramon Durano Jr. who is mayor of Danao City, his sister Carmen Remedio D. Meca who is a Danao city councilor, and four cousins.

The cousins listed are Jude Thaddeus D. Sybico and Peter John Calderon, who are both members of the Cebu Provincial Board, Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon, and Sogod Mayor Lissa Marie Durano.

However, he did not list Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale who is his father’s cousin.