TEN out of 12 elected officials in Lapu-Lapu City are millionaires, based on their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) for 2013.
Mayor Paz Radaza topped the list, with a net worth of P14.71 million.
Most of her wealth comes from personal properties that total P11.81 million. These include machinery (P28,111), vehicles (P5.08 million), jewelries (P1.55 million) and furniture and appliances (P5.15 million).
She also declared P3.06 million in real properties, including two commercial buildings. Radaza, wife of former congressman and former mayor Arturo Radaza, received P1.30 million in salary last year.
She had no liability as of Dec. 31, 2013.
Other millionaires
Councilor Florito Pozon came in second with a net worth of P10.78 million.
Pozon reported real properties, which include 16 residential lots in various villages in Lapu-Lapu City, worth P10.14 million. His personal properties were valued at P1.83 million.
Councilor Efren Herrera ranked third with a net worth of P7.03 million.
The bulk of Herrera’s fortune comes from real properties (P5.47 million) and personal properties (P7.62 million). His liabilities, comprising of car and credit card loans, totaled P599,633.
Councilor Alexander Gestopa, Jr. ranked fourth with a net worth of P5.94 million.
Most of Gestopa’s wealth comes from his real properties valued at P5.97 million. These include a house and lot in Mandaue City (P5 million) and a residential lot in Sta. Rosa (P970,000).
The other city officials whose SALNs were released by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas are Elias Berdin (P5.55 million), Melissa Vidal (P4.95 million), Harry Don Radaza (P2.88 million), Roque Wagwag (P2 million), Eduardo Cuizon (P1.91 million), Vice Mayor Marcial Ycong (P1.42 million), Francisco Senerpida (P201, 624), Leo Mercado (P24, 000) and Queenie Malingin-Ammann (P18,221).
Computation
A public official’s net worth is computed by deducting his total liabilities from his total assets.
Section 17, Article 11 of the 1987 Constitution requires public officials and employees to declare, under oath, their assets, liabilities and net worth on or before April 30 each year.
Section 8 of Republic Act (RA) 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and Section 7 of RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, require public officials and workers to submit “a true detailed and sworn statement of assets and liabilities.” (GMD)