Finance chief richest, DepEd head poorest in Aquino Cabinet but…

Cabinet members enjoy a light moment before the arrival of President Aquino for Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang. They are (from left) Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Patricia Licuanan (Commission on Higher Education), Paquito Ochoa (executive secretary), Dinky Soliman (social welfare), Rogelio Singson (public works and highways), Cesar Purisima (finance) and Rene Almendras (Cabinet secretary). LYN RILLON

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is now the richest member of President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet following the early resignation of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

The 2015 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of incumbent Cabinet members, which were released by the Malacañang Records Office, showed that most of them are multi-millionaires.

READ: #InquirerSeven Facts you need to know about SALNs

Only Education Secretary Armin Luistro had less than one million pesos worth of assets. Luistro listed his networth for 2015 at P586,107.11, which is 24.42 percent higher than his networth the year before.

However, not included in the documents released were the SALNs of Transportation Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya, Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas, Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., and acting National Economic and Development Authority Director General Emmanuel Esguerra.

New Top 10 list

This year’s list of 10 richest Cabinet members features several new names after more than 10 secretaries resigned to join the 2016 electoral campaign, take on other positions or return to the private sector.

Del Rosario headed the list for five years, his wealth coming mostly from marketable securities. In 2010 his reported networth was at P627,090,000. It increased to P838,809,919 in 2014. Purisima, who took his place in the list, ranked second with P283,425,800 for 2014.

This year, Purisima’s networth rose to P301,328,806.

Following closely is Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez with P289,066,800.

Trailing at third place, but still boasting six figures, is Health Secretary Janette Garin with P141,571,768.95.

Completing the top 10 list are Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (P92,985,163.41), Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson (P88,521,628.40), Science Secretary Mario Montejo (P63,138,153.24), Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chair Imelda Nicolas (P44,675,258.87), Commission on Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan (P40,443,888.31), Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad (P34,808,911.39), and Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento (P33,692,420.60).

No copy

The records office said they were not given copies of the SALN of five Cabinet members.

Almendras and Abaya used to be in the top 10 list for 2014 with recorded networth of P134,247,040 and P108,115,680 respectively.

Meanwhile, Cristobal, Caparas and Esguerra were recently appointed by Aquino.

Below are the listed assets, liabilities and networth of incumbent Cabinet members.

READ: Total wealth of Aquino Cabinet rises by P121M