Who are the richest, poorest Cabinet members?
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario maintains his status as the richest member of President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet, according to a list of 2014 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth released on Wednesday.
Del Rosario had a net worth of P838.809 million in 2014, more than P73 million higher than the P765.379 million he recorded in 2013.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Armin Luistro remained the “poorest” and lone nonmillionaire in the group with a net worth of P471,064.46, higher than the P433,392.17 he filed in 2013.
Following Del Rosario, the second richest member of the Cabinet is Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima with a net worth of P298.94 million, up from the P278.947 he registered in 2013.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez exchanged places with Purisima and emerged on the third spot after recording a wealth of P283.425 million, slightly higher from his P282.466 million in 2013.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is still the fourth richest Cabinet member with a net worth of P202.080 million, down from the P211.027 million he filed in 2013.
At fifth place is Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, who declared a wealth amounting to P148.636 million, lower than the P150.641 million he recorded in 2013.
Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras clinched the sixth spot with a net worth of P134.247 million. This was almost P15 million higher than the P119.841 million he filed in 2013.
Seventh richest is Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, who recorded a net worth of P122.095 million—an increase of P5 million from his P117.095 million in 2013.
Chief presidential legal counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is the eighth wealthiest Cabinet member with a net worth of P117.175 million, down from the P120.378 million he recorded in 2013.
The ninth richest Cabinet member is Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya with a net worth of P108.115 million, from P112.080 million in 2013.
Resigned Health Secretary Enrique Ona also cracked the top 10 list of richest Cabinet members with a net worth of P93.692 million, identical to the one he recorded in 2013.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima joined Luistro at the bottom of the list with P4.547 million, P4.101 million, P4.866 million, and P4.881 million, respectively.
Thirty-six out of 37 Cabinet members are multimillionaires. RC
