Villar still richest House rep; 4 Arroyos in top 30

Although she’s no longer a billionaire, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of defeated presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar Jr., was still the wealthiest member of the House of Representatives in 2009, records show. Four members of the Arroyo family were also among the 30 wealthiest congressmen in the 268-member chamber, based on the summary of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of House members for last year. According to the summary, Villar’s total assets dropped by P98.12 million as of December 31, 2009 from P1.046 billion in 2008 to P947.883 million. Villar’s husband only ranked third in the recently concluded elections, behind former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, who won the polls. Only eight of the 268 lawmakers were non-millionaires, with Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano still the poorest with a declared net worth of only P42,219.11, or P13,282 less than P55,501.72 he reported in 2008. The summary was released to the media by House Secretary General Marilyn B. Yap through the Public Relations and Information Department (PRID) Wednesday night. Rich Arroyos Presidential sons Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo and Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato" Arroyo were at the 22nd and 27th spots, with P101.35 million and P90.39 million net worth, respectively. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s brother-in-law, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo, was the 15th richest congressman in 2009 with P138.54 million, while presidential sister-in-law, PL-Kasangga party-list Rep. Ma. Lourdes Arroyo, was at the 29th spot with P88.65 million. President Arroyo herself will become a member of the House in the 15th Congress, replacing Mikey. Top 10 Based on the summary, the second richest House member in 2009 was Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who had a net worth of P477.26 million, the same figure he declared for 2008. He was followed by Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma with P447.53 million, also unchanged from the previous year. Senator-elect and outgoing Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was in fourth spot — up from eighth in 2008 — after posting a 43-percent increase in net worth, or from P179.98 million to P315.55 million. Others in the top 10 list were: 5. Iloilo Rep. Judy Syjuco, P288.51 million 6. Tarlac Rep. Monica Prieto-Teodoro, wife of defeated presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro, P231.25 million 7. Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, P192.07 million 8. Dinagat Island Rep. Glenda B. Ecleo, P166.4 million 9. Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., P158.49 million, and 10. Zambales Rep Antonio Diaz (P153.72 million) Speaker Prospero Nograles of Davao City was the 33rd richest House member with a net worth of P75.71 million. - with Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMANews.TV