Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza remains the richest magistrate, while Associate Justice Mavic Leonen still the poorest, according to a Supreme Court summary report of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of the 15 magistrates of the high court for the year 2016.
In his SALN, Jardeleza reported a net worth of P252.16 million, upped by P2.4 million from P249 million last 2015. His real properties amounted to P58.9 million, while his personal property is P193.2 million with no liability. He jointly filed his SALN with his wife Concepcion.
As the poorest among the SC justices, Leonen reported a net worth of P2.4 million, with an increase of P220,045 from P2.2 million last 2015. His real properties are worth P3.4 million, while his personal property amounted to P2.6 million with liabilities of P3.6 million.
The next richest SC justice is Justice Mariano Del Castillo who has a net worth of P138.9 million. His net worth is about P3.8 million higher than in 2015. His SALN included the assets of his wife, former Ateneo Law Dean Cynthia Roxas-Del Castillo.
The third richest magistrate is Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa with a net worth of P121.5 million, followed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio who has a net worth of P82.6 million; Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, with a net worth of P78.2 million; Associate Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes, with P77.8 million; Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, with P43.5 million; Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza, with P41.4 million; Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, with P41.2 million; Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Sereno, with P24.2 million; Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., with P17.7 million; and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro, P17.7 million.
The two newest magistrates—Associate Justices Samuel R. Martires and Noel G. Tijam —have net worth of P40.7 million and P15.7 million, respectively.
The SC has released the SALNs of justices to the public since 2012, but only upon official request from interested parties subject to the approval of the full Court.
In 2012, the high bench approved the release of the SALNs of justices after the ouster of former Chief Justice Renato Corona in May 2012 due to millions of assets not declared in his SALN.
In a resolution in June 2012, the SC said that only copies of the latest SALNs, personal data sheets and curriculum vitae of justices should be released.
It added that request for previous records should be granted only under justifiable grounds as specified under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
The SC said that the conditions set for the release of the SALN and other personal documents of the justices are necessary to protect their members from harassment.
