Radaza: P17.9M in SALN but no cash declared

LAPU-LAPU City Rep. Arturo Radaza and his wife, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza released a copy of their 2011 joint Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) yesterday.

A copy was given to Cebu Daily News by their spokesman Jonji Gonzales.

The Radzas declared a net worth of P17.9 million.

Their real properties were described as “land and building” worth P5.5 milion and P821,264.60 but no details were given about their location, nature or how they were acquired.

For personal and other properties, the SALN did not declare any cash or investments, unlike the entries of five other Cebu congressmen who specified amounts in their SALN given to CDN.

The Radazas total assets amounted to P11.81 million.

They said they had no liabilities such as loans or mortgages.

As personal property, the couple said their most expensive belongings were vehicles (P5 million) and “furniture, apppliances and others” worth P5.15 million.

An entry for “machineries” was costed at P28,111.92.

Under business interests and financial connections, Congressman Radaza listed only his wife’s manufacturing business, Aileen’s Craft Manufacturing and AR Craftline Manufacturing Co. both in Lapu-Lapu City . The second firm is a “partnership” of Aileen and Paz Radaza.

The congressman declared his income as P1 million per annum as congressman, while the mayor reported annual income of P912,000.

The Radazas listed two relatives working in government–nephew City Councilor Harry Don Radaza and sister, Ida Rago who works in the tourism office of Lapu-Lapu city.

After Chief Justice Renato Corona was ousted following a 20-3 vote of the Senate impeachment court on the basis of his undeclared cash assets in bank deposits in the SALN, the focus has been on congressmen to make public their own asset statements.

Cebu Daily News asked Cebu’s nine district congressmen if they would share with the public the contents of their 2011 SALN which was filed before a mandatory April 30, 2012 deadline.

Only three have not yet show theirs — 1st district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, 2nd district Rep. Pablo Garcia and 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon.

Joje Decal, chief of staff of Salimbangon, said their office in the Batasan Pambansa has no copy ready for release to the media.

Decal said they usually prepare two to three sets of Salimbangon’s SALN but all were submitted to the office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives.

Decal, who said she prepared the SALN of Salimbangon, cited some details in his SALN but gave only estimates to Cebu Daily News.

She placed Salimbangon’s net worth at P48 million.

These include personal properties of stocks and insurance worth P11 million, cash on hand of P3 million and jewelry worth P1 million.

Salimbangon also has a home in barangay Lahug, Cebu City; a farmland in Medellin town, a treatment plant in Butuan City and another property in Consolacion town.

She said Salimbangon has two relatives working in government – Decal, his sister-in-law and his daughter Marie Daphne. The office of Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia in Manila has yet to issue a copy of his SALN to local media.

The Manila office of Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district referred CDN to the office of the Secretary General of the House of Representatives for his SALN.

In Congress’s website, a summary table shows main figures of assets, liabilities and net worth of every legislator but contains no details.

Based on the table Gullas is the richest Cebu congressmen with a total net worth of P99 million.

He is followed by Salimbangon and Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district with P45.6 million. Correspondents Carmel Loise Matus and Norman V. Mendoza

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