Sarangani representative and-elect Manny Pacquiao might not be the lone billionaire anymore in the House of Representatives (HOR), but he was still far and away its richest member at the close of the 16th Congress.
Based on his 2015 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), retired boxing superstar Pacquiao more than doubled his net worth to P3.26 billion from P1.6 billion the previous year.
It can be recalled that Pacquiao, 37, had a megabuck fight with American rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2015 where the Filipino pugilist reportedly pocketed a whopping $150 million.
That’s roughly P7 billion, although a huge chunk of “Pacman’s” purse goes to his promoter and training staff.
Pacquiao, who reportedly owns seven homes including a mansion in his native General Santos City and another in Beverly Hills in the United States, listed personal properties worth R1.7 billion and real properties worth P1.65 billion.
He claimed to have liabilities of around P97 million.
Coming in a far second to Pacquiao’s riches based on 2015 SALNs is Negros Occidental 1st district Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, who had a net worth of P1 billion. The figure is P178 million up from his P822 million net worth the previous year.
Last year’s second richest congressman, outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., is now third with R941 million, which is actually a R20 million increase from his 2014 net worth. (Ellson Quismorio)