A former mayor of Cordova town leads the list of Provincial Board (PB) members in terms of personal wealth.
In a phone interview, PB member Arleigh Sitoy of Cebu’s 6th district said he had a net worth of P67 million as of Dec. 31 last year.
The statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of Sitoy and other PB members were submitted to the Ombudsman-Visayas office last week.
Sitoy, a former Cordova town mayor who won a PB seat in last year’s elections, said most of his assets were inherited.
An only child, Sitoy said some of his assets include a cockpit and apartment units in Cordova.
He said he and his father are part owners of the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City while he is a part owner of La Maison Cafe in Ayala Mall.
Sitoy said he inherited his late mother’s shares in some of his father’s property.
He has four relatives working in government.
His daughter, architect Kristine Sitoy, currently works as his chief of staff in his office while his wife, Cristina Sitoy, works as a consultant in the House of Representatives.
His cousin Ximgildino Sitoy is a municipal councilor in Cordova and his uncle Dr. Celedonio Sitoy is the incumbent Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president.
Sitoy’s SALN wasn’t included in the list of board members submitted by Provincial Human Resource Management Officer Noli Vincent Valencia.
He said he doesn’t know why. “My staff takes charge of ministerial work like submission of SALN and mailing letters,” Sitoy said.
The SALN list showed Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale is the second-richest legislator with a net worth of P53.7 million.
PB Member Sun Shimura came next with a net worth of P23.4 million followed by PB member and former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano at P15.1 million.
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman Aladin Wilyamie Caminero came last with a net worth at P57,500.
The net worth or actual wealth is the official’s total asset, minus his total liabilities.
Based on her SALN, Magpale declared real properties amounting to P26.8 million.
These include an agricultural lot in Nueva Ecija, residential lots in Cebu City and Danao City and one commercial lot in Danao City.
Magpale also owns a beach area in Tuburan, Cebu; a beach resort in Danao City; condominium units in Las Piñas and Ayala; and a share in Cebu Country Club.
Magpale declared bank accounts/cash in bank worth P18 million; furniture, antiques, paintings, jewelry, books and appliances at P2 million.
She also has time deposits worth P5 million from the retirement pay of her late husband, Assosiate Justice Arcenio Magpale.
Magpale has two vehicles: a secondhand Mercedez Benz worth P800,000 and a RAV 4 worth P1.1 million. She didn’t declare any liabilities.
Magpale owns Northeastern Cebu Colleges Inc., an educational institution in Danao City, and JDA Dev. Corp, an agricultural lot in Danao City.
She declared four relatives working in government.
They were Danao City Vice Mayor Ramonito Durano III, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Patricia and City Councilor Miguel Antonio Magpale of Danao City.
The name of Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. isn’t on the list despite the fact that they are cousins.
Shimura’s declared assets include a beach lot in Malapascua Island, Daanbantayan, Cebu; a residential lot in Pajo, Daanbantayan; and a Nissan Patrol vehicle.
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 and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their homes.
The anti-graft office deemed the submission of SALN a requirement to monitor an official’s net worth and see whether the government official’s lifestyle does not exceed his or her 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. With Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus