CJ Bersamin among highest-paid government officials

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin has broken into the top 10 of the highest-paid government officials, according to a report on salaries and allowances of the Commission on Audit (COA).

Bersamin earned P10.9 million in 2018 and placed ninth.

The other top 10 earners include officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Solicitor General Jose Calida, who placed sixth, and Jesus Clint Aranas, president of the Government Service Insurance System, who was in eighth spot.

Bersamin received a salary of P2.46 million and monetary benefits, including honorarium, totaling P3.27 million in 2018.

The chief magistrate also received P2.05 million in allowances, P2.42 million in bonuses, incentives and benefits, and P716,000 in discretionary and miscellaneous expenses, the COA said.

Bersamin ranked 22nd in 2017.

Calida received P12.469 million in salary and allowances as the highest-paid solicitor general ever, according to the COA.

Aranas posted the biggest jump in earnings in 2018, receiving P11.1 million in salary and allowances, the audit body said. He was not among the top 1,000 government earners in 2017.

The late BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. topped the list in 2018, with P21.05 million in salaries and allowances.

Rounding out the top 10 were BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo (P14.4 million), DBP president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo (P15.8 million), BSP Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Tuaño-Amador (P13.9 million), BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier (P13.5 million) BSP Assistant Governor Ma. Ramona Santiago (P11.3 million) and BSP Assistant Governor Wilhelmina Manalac (P10.9 million).—Patricia Denise M. Chiu