Popular television host and presidential sister Kris Aquino was one of the contributors to the campaign funds of incoming vice president Leni Robredo during the May 9 polls.
The Statement of Contributions and Expenditures submitted by Robredo to the Commission on Elections revealed that Aquino contributed more than P30 million to her.
The vice president-elect declared P423,163,737.34 in contributions and P418,664,130.60 in expenditures in her SOCE, making her the biggest spender among the six vice presidential candidates.
Aside from Aquino, other individuals who donated big amounts to the campaign of Robredo were Eduardo Cu Unjieng, P10 million; Peter Garrucho, P10 million; Jose Baltazar Buenaventura, P10 million; Wellington Lim, P10 million; Victoria Aquino Dee, P1 million; Harvey Keh, P5 million; and Lisa Gokongwei, P200,000.
The biggest contributor of Sen. Grace Poe, who ran for president, on the other hand, was a certain Oscar Valera who gave P50 million.
Other individuals who also gave big contributions to Poe’s campaign were Odilon Sta. Teresa, P20 million; Mario Santos Tan, P10 million; Jesusa Poe, P10 million; Marvin Go, P15 million; Eduardo Manzano, P3 million; Bryan Villanueva, P10 million; Maria Delas Mercedez Zobel, P20 million; and Ramundo Escalona, P10 million.
Poe was also found to be the biggest spender among presidential candidates with her expenditures amounting to P510,845,262.56 after getting contributions of P511,950,000.
Among those who ran for senator, the biggest spender was former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino who spent P199,146,623.72 in his campaign.
Among the winning senators, Joel Villanueva was found to be the biggest spender with P163,787,074.02.
(Leslie Ann G. Aquino)