May 2, 2025
MANILA – The start of the 90-day campaign period last Feb. 11 saw a stark contrast—some candidates were at a public park, or even a barangay hall, while the rest were inside stadiums, or even an exclusive social room, ready to accommodate thousands of people.
It mirrored a harsh reality that, most often, is a critical strand in an election, especially in the Philippines—some candidates are rich, having the resources to stage an all-out campaign, while most are not.
With over 68 million registered voters for the election on May 12, a candidate has to have P205 million to P343 million if he or she wishes to reach everyone across the archipelago—from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.
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But based on available data on the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of past and present government officials who are seeking a seat in the Senate, to be visible to one and all is close to impossible, especially for some.
There are 63 active candidates and INQUIRER.net was able to compile data for 22 individuals. All of them are, or were, in government, except for Leody de Guzman, who provided an estimate of his wealth in 2022, when he ran for the presidency.
Out of the 22, Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) is the poorest, having P518,660 as of 2018, while the richest is world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao who became senator in 2016, with a declared P3.2 billion in wealth as of 2020.
READ: Start of campaign period: Things you need to know
Both members of the Senate and House of Representatives fall within the Salary Grade 31 bracket, receiving not less than P278,000 a month, the Department of Budget and Management had said.
Next to Brosas in the poorest bracket is Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) at P912,809 as of 2018 and labor activist Leody de Guzman at P1 million as of 2022. Former defense official Norberto Gonzales came next at P5.3 million, although his last available SALN was from 2009.
Liza Maza, former lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, has P1.2 million as of 2017, while Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez has P6.1 million as of 2018. Lawyer Raul Lambino declared a wealth worth of P20.9 million as of 2020.
Next to Pacquiao in the wealthiest bracket is Sen. Bong Revilla at P179.9 million as of 2020; former Senate President Tito Sotto at P85.6 million; Sen. Pia Cayetano at P84.6 million; and Sen. Lito Lapid at P74.9 million.
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Sen. Francis Tolentino has P59.8 million, while former Sen. Ping Lacson has P58.3 million.
Those in the middle are former Sen. Bam Aquino at P45.2 million as of 2018; Sen. Imee Marcos at P36.3 million as of 2020; Sen. Bato dela Rosa at P34.4 million as of 2020; Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip) at P29.9 million as of 2018; and former Sen. Gringo Honasan at P25.9 million as of 2018.
Former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan has P23.9 million as of 2020, while Sen. Bong Go has P22.3 million.
There was no data for some candidates, even when they are, or have served, in government, especially since the Office of the Ombudsman in 2020 officially restricted public access to SALN, saying that it shall only be given to:
- The official or a duly authorized representative
- A requester acting on a court order in relation to a pending case
- The Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office for the purpose of conducting fact-finding investigation
The document, as stated in Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, is mandated to be available to the public for a period of 10 years after receipt of the SALN.
Open access
As pointed out in the law, the high standard of ethics in public service has to be “promoted.”
“Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest,” it stated.
READ: Public and SALNs: Not just a fixation
But last February, in a debate moderated by GMA Network, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, who was executive secretary in the first few months of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said “no” when asked if he agreed that SALN be made available to the public.
Out of the 12 candidates who were in attendance at the debate, 11 said “yes”, including former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, who told INQUIRER.net that she can sign a waiver to access her SALN from her last year in government service in 2015.
The rest were lawyer and labor activist Ernesto Arellano, lawyer and singer Jimmy Bondoc, former Rep. Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna), Castro, Dela Rosa, De Guzman, lawyer and labor activist Luke Espiritu, Martinez, former military officer Ariel Querubin, and peasant activist Danilo Ramos.
‘Rich’ lawmakers
Ramos, who rode a carabao in Bulacan at the start of the campaign period, had stressed in the “The Rundown 2025 Youth-Oriented Senate Elections Forum” on March 15 that the poor should likewise have a chance to be in the Senate.
However, based on the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from April 11 to 15, the rich still comprise the list of 12 individuals with the highest chance of winning a seat in the Senate.
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Some of them are Tulfo brothers Erwin and Ben, and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, one of the children of billionaire Manny Villar, a businessman and a former member of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Erwin is still serving as ACT-CIS representative, but since he only took office in 2023, his SALN data is not included in the 2018 list, which is available in the website of the House of Representatives.
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The latest available data for Abby Binay, who has been the local chief executive of Makati City since 2016, was from the last year that she was in the House of Representatives, declaring wealth worth P47.50 million.
Trailing behind the top 12 in the SWS survey is actor and TV host Willie Revillame.