Del Castillo richest Supreme Court justice, Leonen poorest

Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo file photo

Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo is the wealthiest among the 15-member Supreme Court while Associate Justice Marvic Leonen is the poorest.

This was based on the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) of the justices, which were released Monday by the high court upon the request of media outfits.

For the second time since the high court allowed the release of the SALNs of the justices last year, Del Castillo had the highest net worth at P109,743,118.28.

The SALNs of the justices had not been released for the past 20 years until last year when Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno assumed the top court position after a Senate impeachment court ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona for failure to publicly declare his income in his SALN.

In his SALN, Del Castillo declared his total assets (at acquisition cost) at P110,127,634.66 while his liabilities were made up entirely of credit card payables worth P384,516.38.

Among his real properties were two house and lots in Cainta, Rizal, and Makati City; a condominium at Rockwell in Makati and land at Terrezas de Puenta Fuego. He also declared three luxury vehicles.

Del Castillo has P48.78 million in cash and investments in stocks, bonds and other financial instruments.

The lowest net worth declared was that by Leonen, the newest member of the court, at P1,674,623.22. Leonen was appointed only last year by President Aquino after he served as the government’s chief negotiator in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Leonen declared his total assets at P2,333,679.22, made up of his P1.1-million Ford Escape, assorted books and appliances, and cash in bank totaling P753,679.22. He did not declare any real property.

Leonen’s total liabilities amounted to P659,056, made up of a car loan, credit card loans and other loans.

Sereno was the 10th-richest, with a net worth of P18,143,104.01, which was a P113,528.50 jump from her net income last year of P18,029,575.51.

Sereno’s total assets amounted to P19,155,024.90, which included four vehicles, three house and lots and another lot, cash in bank amounting to P1,948,412.10 and P1.150 million in investments.

The Chief Justice declared P1,011,920.89 in liabilities made up of credit card billings of P177,750.89 and a housing loan balance of P834,170.

The second-richest high court member is Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, with a net worth of P83,885,614.57. Carpio’s assets amounted to P83,960,614.57 and his liabilities, P75,000. He has four vehicles and several houses and lots in Manila and the provinces.

Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin had the highest jump in net worth. His net worth in 2012 was P26,119,275.39 against  P18,811,447.87 the previous year.

The net worth declared by the other justices were: Bienvenido Reyes, P76,542,167.31; Estela Bernabe, P73,827,435; Roberto Abad, P43.4 million; Jose Mendoza, P29,982,165.66; Diosdado Peralta, P29,382.037.60; Martin Villarama Jr., P21,911,495.36; Arturo Brion, P11,908,742; Jose Perez, P11,760,000; Teresita de Castro, P8,941,000; and Presbitero Velasco, P8,679,740.49.—With Tetch Torres-Tupas, INQUIRER.net

Originally posted: 8:51 pm | Monday, July 1st, 2013