Gwen’s net worth up P3M; Mayor Rama nets first million

Cebu’s officials didn’t feel the pinch of the economic slowdown as shown by their annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia added P3.1 million to her P100 million net worth as of last year based on her SALN submitted to the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Garcia’s net worth went up a little over P10 million from her initial net worth of P92.4 million in 2004, her first year as Cebu governor.

Garcia has total assets amounting to P150.4 million, though her net worth after liabilities is pegged at P102.1 million.

These include cash on hand/bank accounts worth P193,330, furniture and antiques at P5.4 million and jewelry at P8.3 million.

She also has a 50 percent share in total assets of GGC Enterprises valued at P14.7 million and a 67 percent share in total assets of the GGC Group at P33.2 million. (The initials stand for Gwen Garcia Codilla) Both companies are based in Ormoc City, Leyte province.

In explaining her net worth, Garcia told local media in yesterday’s press conference that she acquired her assets even before she became governor.

Her companies own, among others, a private port, an ice plant, a gasoline refilling station and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) office.

“The dresses that I wore on special occasions and the vehicles that I ride in (won’t be paid by my salary as governor),” Garcia said.

Garcia’s real properties include a residential building, agricultural and commercial lots in Ormoc City.

These properties were purchased or donated from 1994 to 1997.

She also purchased a residential lot in Cebu City in 2007 and a Mitsubishi Pajero in 2003.

Garcia’s liabilities were listed at P48.3 million.

These consist of bank loans worth P31.7 million, accounts payable at P9.7 million, and loans from the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS) and Pag-Ibig at P6.9 million.

The governor has 15 relatives in government service including her father Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district; brothers Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district; Mayor Nelson Garcia of Dumanjug, Cebu; and Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia of Barili, Cebu.

Dropped from the list is her brother Winston Garcia, former GSIS president and general manager and her brother Byron, a former Capitol security consultant.

The late Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez hasn’t submitted his SALN for last year, though he registered the biggest increase in net worth in the province.

Sanchez, who succumbed to lung cancer last April 29, netted P120.9 million in 2009.

This was a substantial increase from his P75.3 million net worth in his first year as vice governor in 2004.

Sanchez owns a pharmaceutical firm and has substantial land holdings and a farm in Tuburan town.

In contrast, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama managed to increase his net worth from P941,000 in 2004 to P1.8 million last year.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, who was elected into public office last year, declared a net worth of P9.3 million.

Rama’s total assets amounted to P2.8 million, which includes cash on bank at P998,781.55; jewelry worth P75,000; investments at P300,000; furnitures at P250,000; stocks at P641,300 and one Honda City vehicle valued at P500,000.

His lone liabilities came from a personal loan of P1 million.

Rama who is connected with the law firm Rama and Associates said he has been on leave since July last year.

Vice Mayor Young declared no liability. He has investments in real estate and owns a livestock business in Cebu City.

Young hasn’t declared any relative working in government.

The Ombudsman-Visayas previously released the SALN of 13 Cebu City councilors.

The richest was Cebu City Councilor Raul Alcoseba whose net worth amounted to P36 million.

The “poorest” was Councilor and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) President John Philip Po at P10,000.

The SALNs of councilors Rodrigo Abellanosa, Roberto Cabarrubias, Leah Japson, Edgardo Labella, and Michael Ralota were unavailable as of yesterday.

Public officials are required to submit their SALNs under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

RA 3019 also includes the net worth of the spouses of public officials as well as unmarried children under 18 years of age who are living in their households.

Government officials and employees who fail to submit their annual SALN or stated false items in the documents will face charges.

The anti-graft office deemed the submission of SALN a requirement to monitor an official’s net worth and determine if a government official’s lifestyle does not exceed his income.

All SALNs filed with the Ombudsman shall be available to the public for examination and inspection.

Those who wanted to request for copies of the SALN shall fill in a form made by the anti-graft office.

The name, address and phone numbers of the requesting party should be properly indicated as well as the purpose of the request.

/With Ana Asteria M. Erpe, UP Tacloban Intern