ASSOCIATE Justice Francis Jardaleza still holds the distinction of being the richest member of the Supreme Court (SC), according to the summary of 2016 Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) released Friday.
Based on the document, Jardaleza had a net worth of P252.17 million, making him the richest SC justice for three straight years.
Jardaleza had recorded a net worth of P249.68 million in 2015, higher than his 2014 net worth of P244.4 million.
Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo is second richest with a net worth of P138.91 million. He had declared 2015 net worth of P130.91 million.
Following Del Castillo is Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, the last appointee of former President Benigno Aquino III. Caguioa had a net worth of P121.55 million, higher than his 2015 net worth of P117.18 million.
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has a net worth P82.64 million in 2016, just a million higher than P81.93 million he recorded in 2015.
According to the SALN report, all SC Justices became richer in 2016.
Associate Justice Estella Perlas-Bernabe's net worth increased by P2 million, from P76.50 million in 2015 to P78.30 million in 2016.
Former Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes' net worth increased by only a few thousand. He recorded a net worth of P77.80 million in 2016 from P77.02 million in 2015.
Reyes retired upon reaching the age of 70 last July 6 and was replaced by newly appointed Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., a former presiding justice of the Court of Appeals.
Justice Diosdado Peralta recorded a net worth of P43.54 million, P3 million higher than his 2015 net worth of P39.08 million.
Associate Justice Jose Mendoza had a net worth of P41.49 million in 2016, which is higher than his declared network of P37.32 million in 2015.
Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin declared P41.30 million net worth, slightly higher than his net worth of P29.16 million in 2015.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has declared P24.25 million, P2 million higher than last year's P22.17 million.
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.'s net worth is P17.75 million, slightly higher than his 2015 net worth of P14.76 million.
Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro's net worth is P17.73 million, while in 2015 she declared a P14.05 million.
Justice Marvic Leonen is still the poorest with P2.49 million from 2.27 million in 2015.
The first two appointees of President Rodrigo Duterte Associate Justice Samuel Martires and Noel Tijam were included in the list.
Martires' recorded a net worth is P40.77 million, while Tijam declared a net worth of P15.79 million.
Newly appointed Justice Andres Reyes was not included in the list.
The record revealed that Justices Velasco, Bernabe, Jardeleza and Caguioa do not have any liabilities, while Martires and Tijam have both declared their liabilities only amounting to P5,000. (SunStar Philippines)