Pacman remains richest congressman

MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao may have lost his boxing crown but the Sarangani representative remains king in the House of Representatives, remaining the wealthiest of the chambers’ 278 members according to the summary report of filed Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net worth for 2012.

Pacquiao's net worth even jumped from P1.352 billion in 2011 to P1.770 billion in 2012, according to the document released by the Office of the House Secretary General. 

In 2010, the boxing champion posted a net worth of P1.130 billion. For 2012, he had a total of P258 million liabilities.

For the third straight year, Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano was the poorest, with a net worth of only P92,507.

ALE Representative Catalina Bagasina emerged as the richest party-list member with a net worth of P113.77 million.

The 10 richest members of the House remained the same as last year, except for Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Farinas, who fell to 16th spot, and Rizal Representative Joel Roy Duavit, who joined the ranks of the wealthiest.

The top 20 richest House members are:

    1.   Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani) - P1.770 billion (net worth)
    2.   Imelda Marcos (Ilocos Norte) - P 922.80 million
    3.   Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Quezon City) - P 817.54 million
    4.   Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental) - P 702.06 million
    5.   Julio Ledesma IV (Negros Occidental) - P 590.55 million
    6.   Martin Romualdez (Leyte) - P 474.18 million
    7.   Mark Villar (Las Pinas) - P 361.78 million
    8.   Augusto Syjuco (Iloilo) - P 301.57 million
    9.   Enrique Cojuangco (Tarlac) - P 214.83 million
    10. Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal) - P 195.92 million
    11. Rodolfo Antonino  (Nueva Ecija) - P 189.00 million
    12. Danilo Suarez  (Quezon) - P 188.72 million
    13. Lucy Torres-Gomez  (Leyte) - P 179.60 million
    14. Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo) - P 173.39 million
    15. Lani Mercado (Cavite) - P 169.14 million
    16. Rodolfo Farinas (Ilocos Norte) - P 159.48 million
    17. Aurelio Gonzales (Pampanga) - P 158.30 million
    18. Rodolfo Valencia (Oriental Mindoro) - P 150.64 million
    19. Joseph Violago (Nueva Ecija) - P 121.26 million
    20. Gloria Arroyo  (Pampanga) - P 120.51 million


(Click to download the list of House members according to net worth)

Among the House members who ran for senator, Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara was the wealthiest, with a net worth of P99.48 million.

He was followed by Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay with P82.61 million, Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile with P78.71 million, San Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito with P72.62 million, and Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy Casino with P446,389.

Angara and Ejercito made it to the top 12 in the Senate race.

source: interaksyon.com

Christopher de Leon to run for Congress in 2013 elections

Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng marami na plano ni Christopher de Leon na tumakbo bilang congressman ng lalawigan ng Batangas sa susunod na halalan sa Mayo 2013.

Ang aktor ay kasalukuyang nagsisilbing senior board member ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan o Provincial Board ng ikalawang distrito ng Batangas.

Ang pagtakbo ni Christopher—o “Boyet" sa kanyang mga malalapit na kaibigan—ay nabanggit na rin ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos sa nakaraang panayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Sinabi ni Governor Vi sa interview na nagsabi na sa kanya si Boyet na nagbabalak itong tumakbo bilang congressman sa 2013 elections.

Parehong kabilang sa Liberal Party sina Governor Vi at Boyet, na isa rin sa itinuturing na pinakasikat na tambalan sa Philippine showbiz.

Sa press conference ng ikatlong yugto ng GMA-7 primetime series na Luna Blanca nitong Martes, Setyembre 4, sa Imperial Palace Suites, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, hindi itinanggi ni Boyet ang intensiyon niyang tumakbo bilang 2nd District Batangas representative.

Bagamat ayaw pa niyang magbigay ng detalye bago ang kanyang pormal na paghahain ng kandidatura sa unang linggo ng Oktubre, sinabi ng aktor na pabor sa kanya ang resulta ng survey.

Matatandaang unang tumakbo si Christopher bilang representative ng ikalawang distrito ng Batangas noong 2007 ngunit natalo. Sinubukang muli ng aktor ang kanyang kapalaran sa pulitika nang tumakbo siya bilang board member ng Batangas noong 2010, at sa pagkakataong ito ay nagtagumpay na siya.

Sa nakaraang dalawang taon ng pagiging public servant niya, naging isa sa mga prayoridad ni Boyet ang kalikasan.

Kuwento ng actor-politician sa PEP, “Yun ang ginagawa ko ngayon. I do mga resolutions, ordinances.

“I’m coming up with the first environmental code of the province of Batangas."

Isusumite raw niya ito sa susunod na Miyerkules, Setyembre 12.

Pinangungunahan ni Boyet ngayon ang Provincial Environment Committee na tumututok sa mga problema sa polusyon sa tubig at hangin.

Binanggit ng actor-politician na talagang hiniling niyang pamunuan ang environment committee.

“It’s closer to God. I mean, taking care [of the environment], being stewards to God’s creation," wika nito.

Balak ni Boyet na mas “diinan" pa ang ang mga proyektong pangkalikasan sakali mang tumakbo at manalo siya sa susunod na taon.

“It is a national concern, e. But I will focus on Batangas."

ON POLITICS. Nang tanungin ng PEP kung dumarating ba talaga sa punto ng career ng isang artista ang desisyong sumabak sa pulitika, ito ang unang sinabi ni Boyet: “Serve."

Paliwanag niya, “The actors are very ano, e, very… Well, one is we are influential, yes. We are all known.

“[But] not all actors can be that, but it’s… we also deal with more people often, with the fans. So, we just extend that a little.

“And then you reach out to the people, ask people what they need, and [eventually] help in your own small way."

Nabanggit din ng aktor na ang pagpasok sa pulitika ay paraan upang mas lumawak ang kanyang kaalaman.

“You learn more, you learn a lot.

"Aside from the people, aside from the needs of the people, you learn more about the law.

“You study about the law, you learn about the process, how to preside over meetings, learn how to make a resolution, ordinance.

"And that’s fun, that’s fun… it’s really fun!

“I mean, it’s a different horizon. At the same time, you deal with people—magaling kami diyan!" natatawang sabi ni Boyet.

Nabanggit din ng aktor sa PEP na hindi niya planong pumasok sa pulitika noon. Sumagi lamang ito sa isip niya nang alukin siyang tumakbo.

“It [just] rubbed in when they offered me. And then there’s what you call a… political bug that rubs on you.

“You look for it. I don’t know what it is. It’s more of ‘Will I win?’ It’s more of a challenge."

Handa raw ang loob ng aktor sa mga posibleng mangyari sa muli niyang pagtakbo.

“Hopefully, if God willing...

“If this doesn’t push through, it’s okay.

"But since they’re ready, I might as well grab it… take the opportunity."

Ang kasalukuyang kongresista ng second district ng Batangas ay si Hermilando “Dodo" Mandanas, na tumalo kay Boyet noong 2007 elections.

Nasa ikatlo at huling termino na si Mandanas kaya hindi na sila magkakalaban ni Boyet sakaling tumakbong kongresista ang aktor sa 2013.

Ilan sa mga dating naging kongresista sa naturang distrito ay ang mag-amang Hernando "Nani" Perez (1987–1992; 1992–1995; 1995–1998) at Francisco Perez (2001-2004). -- Abby Mendoza, PEP

source: gmanetwork.com

House members differ over Pacquiao's fight against BIR

MANILA, Philippines -- House members are of two minds on the accusation by their peer, Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, that he is being persecuted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. One view holds he should just quietly settle the issue with the tax agency, while another view insists he was treated unfairly.

Leaders of the House of Representatives said Wednesday that instead of crying harassment, Pacquiao should just explain to the BIR the questions raised on his tax payments.

“Congressman Pacquiao should talk to BIR preferably with his accountant. That’s the better way to settle the issue,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said.

The issue at hand stems from a case the BIR lodged against Pacquiao for alleged violation of Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code or the provision on “failure to obey summons.”

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II said the cry of harassment by the boxing champion was unfounded.

“There no basis to cry harassment,” Gonzales said, adding “to further connect it to the impeachment is hitting below the belt.”

But Pacquiao's friend and colleague from San Juan City thinks otherwise.

“Insensitive and a major distraction in preparation for Pacman’s June fight” was how San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito slammed the BIR and Commissioner Kim Henares’ attitude toward their handling of the alleged tax fraud case against Pacquiao.

The lawmaker said this distraction is all due to the bureau’s process of exacting tax, which has now come to a point of harassment to the personality of the Sarangani Representative.

“BIR’s duty is given; Manny is not taking that personally. What only bothers him is how his case is being handled. Because BIR officials coming out to speak to the media is apparently becoming an attack to his personality rather than what they say as a fulfillment of duty,” Ejercito explained.

“For example, in news reports, some government officials may not be blatantly labeling Pacman as a tax evader. But if you read between the lines, it’s all the same,” he added.

And given Pacquiao’s rock star status, Ejercito said the media picks up almost every news item that relates with the boxing champ so easily.

“It is just unfortunate that at this time that Pacman needs to promote his upcoming fight, some government officials choose to feed media with pressers that smear on his personality,” he furthered.

“Is this how the government repays him with the victories he has brought to our country, by harassing him in the public to pay his taxes?”

But this is not to say that he and his colleagues in Congress are seeking for special attention with regard to Pacquiao's taxes, the lawmaker said. “Manny is only asking for consideration that they (government) listen to his side of the story. Because after all, he is also a public official.”

In the end, Ejercito hopes the BIR is not merely riding on Pacquiao’s popularity to portray that it is performing well, but is only after accomplishing its tax exacting responsibilities.

source: interaksyon.com