Philippine Election 2010: Top 5 Presidential Candidates and their growing wealth

Tomorrow, February 9 is the start of the national campaign as allowed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). While we will watch as to who will follow the rules and will disobey them, it is also interesting to know them more.

With this, below is the list of the Top 5 Presidential Candidates and their growing wealth. This is only a summary as published on GMA News.tv recently so I assume they are verified true and correct.

But before you proceed, let me remind you that the next Philippine president would earn only P60,000 a month or a maximum of P4.68 million in six years, before tax. The total six-year income for the new president would add up to just P3.18 million, after tax.

Now, get ready for the amazing list.

Manny Villar

A former member of the House of Representatives 1992-96, 1998-2003, and a senator since 2004. He started with a net worth of P75.43 million in 1992, grew it to PP310.92 million in 1996, P481.5 million in 2002, P750.82 million in 2005, and closed it at P1.05 billion in 2008.

Noynoy Aquino

A former member of House of Representatives, 1998-2005, and a senator since 2007. He started with a net worth of P8.42 million in 1998, grew his wealth to P11.98 million in 2002, raised it further to P13.47 million in 2005, and ended 2007 with P13.94 million.

Joseph Erap Estrada

A movie actor and a film producer, mayor of San Juan in Metro Manila 1968-88, vice president 1992-98, and president from 1998 to January 2001. He reported a net worth of P1.18 million in 1985, grew this to P3.82 million in 1992, and filed his last SALN in 1999 before his ouster from Malacanang at P35.86 million.

Gilbert Gibo Teodoro

A former member of the House of Representatives 1998-2006, staff in the Office of the President in 2007, and became the Secretary of National Defense from 2008 to 2009. He started with a net worth of P80.17 million in 1998, slid to P75.54 million in 2002, did not file in 2003, grew it to P102.62 million in 2005, and closed it at P232.43 million in 2008 owing to a surge in the value of real estate inheritance in Sampaloc, Manila. In 1998, Teodoro reported having interest in 11 lots in Sampaloc, Manila.

Richard Dick Gordon

A former mayor of Olongapo City 1992-95, 1998-99 and 2004-07, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator 1995-98, became the Secretary of Tourism 2001-03, and a senator since 2004. He started with a net worth of P8.3 million in 1992, grew it to P11.87 million in 1995, P22.38 million in 2002, P24.92 million in 2005, and ended it at P26.52 million in 2007.

But of course, these figures are not as simple it seems since this is only those declared in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Among the five Presidential candidates, Dick Gordon is the most detailed and forthcoming in his SALN declarations.

He has disclosed over the years that his stock investments which include the following.

STOCKS YEAR ACQUIRED PESO VALUE

Philex Mining Corp 1973 P36,652
First Phil Holdings, Inc 1973 P8,778
Atlas Consolidated Mining Co. 1973 P3,543
San Miguel Corp. 1973-1999 P910,139
Lepanto Consolidated (P34.00 per share)
Central Azucarera de Don Pedro P405,000
Jollibee Foods Corp. P2, 659,604
Aboitiz Equity Ventures P31,200
Pilipino Telephone Corp P1,014,000
Petron Corp P23,000
Meralco P116,250
Filinvest P371, 250
C & P Homes P111, 250
Kepphil Shipyard, Inc. P75, 978

Manny Villar, who is said to be the wealthiest of the five candidates, is also the stingiest with details offered in his SALNs. According to the report, he did not list Vista Land in his SALNs among his business and financial interests. What he disclosed are shares in companies with controlling interests in Vista Land, notably Fine Properties, Inc. (since 1982) and Adelfa Properties (since 1986).

Again, let's vote a candidate because of his integrity, history and capability.

I do not mean that rich people cannot serve his country, but it is a must that we know how to vote wisely.

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Vilma Santos and Ralph Recto leaves Gibo and joined Noynoy

Batangas governor and Star for all Season Vilma Santos and husband former senator Ralph Recto leaves Gibo at Lakas-Kampi and joined Noynoy at Liberal Party.

Ralph Recto now joins former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Congressmen Rufino Biazon, Teofisto Guingona III, Nereus Acosta and Riza Hontiveros, former Senator Sergio Osmeña III, detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Sonia Roco in the LP senatorial line-up.

Meanwhile, Vilma Santos will seek reelection as governor of Batangas province.

For her part, Santos was among those considered for vice president of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in which her fellow movie star and former husband Edu Manzano was recently chosen.

Lakas-Kampi Secretary General Gabriel Claudio said Santos and Recto informed the party beforehand that the couple were planning to join other parties, but he did not expect them to join LP because Recto was reportedly being considered by Senator Manuel Villar Nacionalista Party for its senatorial slate.

In addition, Lakas-Kampi vice president Prospero Pichay said he was expecting more members to bolt the party aside from the couple, especially those candidates that would not be supported by the Lakas leadership. He added that while the departure of the Recto couple was a loss to the party, the effect was small because Recto was not included in their senatorial line-up.

“It's a loss if actually they were supporting me from the start, but I really don’t know whether that's true or not," he said, adding that it would be unlikely for him to get a solid vote from his former colleagues in the Cabinet.

Instead of worrying, Lakas standard bearer Gibo Teodoro said the best thing that the party could do was to “get our teams together" in anticipating the negative impact that defections may inflict on the party.

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Edu Manzano for Vice President: Gilbert Teodoro running mate in 2010

Local TV host and actor Edu Manzano is running run for Vice President. He will be the running mate of Gilbert Teodoro in the Philippine election this 2010, as announced today by Lakas-Kampi-CMD party vice chairman and Interior and Local Governments secretary Ronaldo Puno.

"Ako po ay tuwang-tuwa, nagagalak na tinanggap ng aking katambalan ang indikasyon ng inyong lingkod sa pamamagitan ni Secretary Ronnie Puno (I'm very glad that he accepted it through Secretary Puno)," said Teodoro at a press conference at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Manzano's decision to join the ruling party surprised politicians. It was earlier reported that he would run as senator under the LP, instead of vice president.

"I have to tell everyone that Secretary Puno played a very big role on convincing me. I have on many occasions expressed my respect for Secretary Teodoro, and I believe that he possesses all qualities to move this country forward," Edu Manzano said.

The 54-year-old Manzano, was born in the US but sees no legal hindrance in his candidacy. Earlier, the Supreme Court has already dismissed a petition questioning his qualification to run for public office because of his citizenship.

It took a while before the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party was able to pick its vice presidential bet. Edu was among the four individuals being considered by the administration to become the running mate of Teodoro.

The other three were Sen. Loren Legarda, vice presidential bet of the Nationalist People's Coalition, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and senator-actor Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

Meanwhile, Manzano led in public service when he was still a vice mayor. Likewise, he was able to continue his fight for unity and has a strong advocacy for the youth. He was very concerned about the moral rectitude of the youth when he was OMB chair.

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If you want to receive my future posts regularly for FREE,you can subscribe in a reader or by Email. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to Contact Me anytime.

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