Philippines: Richest, poorest presidential candidates

10-WAY RACE: It’s the heat of the 90-day campaign period for the 2022 Philippine National Elections (last day of campaigning in May 7, 2022). All public officials and employees — whether regular or under temporary status — are mandated to submit their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). Private individuals who win an elected post are also required to submit a SALN, upon assumption of office. The declaration also details business and financial interests and relatives in government. It is a exercise in transparency, and also aims to reveal any actual or potential conflicts of interest. Following are the candidates and their published SALN.

MANNY PACQUIAO, 43: The boxing champ is the richest Philippine legislator and presidential candidate, based on his SALN. He has served in both chambers of Congress since 2010. He first gained acclaim as a world-class champion boxer and juggled his careers as a public official and athlete until 2021 when he announced his retirement from the sport. Pacquiao is also a preacher and founded the church Word for Everyone Ministries International, Inc. in 2012. Pacquiao principally authored the National Bible Day Act and the Handbook for OFWs Act of 2017. Citing his religious beliefs as a born-again Christian, Pacquiao has expressed support for the LGBTQ community but not same-sex marriage. He previously supported the reinstatement of the death penalty for the manufacturing and trafficking of illegal drugs but, like other candidates seeking higher office, reversed his position in November 2021.

FERDINAND ‘BONGBONG’ MARCOS JR, 64. Marcos Jr. is the second-richest among presidential candiates. He is the son and namesake of the late ousted dictator, was elected unopposed into vice gubernatorial seats in Ilocos Norte at the height of his father’s regime in 1980, and eventually into congressional seats representing the same province after his family’s return to the Philippines in 1991. He also served as a senator from 2010 to 2016 before losing a bid for higher office to Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2016 elections. Marcos Jr. is listed as a defendant in at least three civil cases involving the successful recovery of the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth. The Presidential Commission on Good Government, the quasi-judicial agency tasked with recovering ill-gotten wealth accumulated by the Marcos family and its associates, has so far reclaimed P174.2 billion as of March 2021 — some of which went to compensating victims of human rights abuse during the Martial Law era. Another P125.9 billion has yet to be recovered and remains under litigation. Marcos claims that he never possessed or even benefitted from ill-gotten wealth. He is the current front-runner in the elections, according to most surveys.

ISKO MORENO, 47: Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso is the incumbent mayor of the City of Manila. After serving as the capital city's vice mayor from 2007 to 2016, he ran for senator but failed to secure a seat. He was then appointed by President Duterte as chairman of the board of the North Luzon Railways Corporation and later, undersecretary at the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Since taking office, Domagoso has focused on improving public health and school facilities and providing low-cost housing for the urban poor, along with beautification and tourism projects across the city. He has spearheaded Manila's pandemic response and gave free medicine and testing services even for non-residents of the city.

PANFILO ‘PING’ LACSON, 73: Lacson has served in the legislative and executive branches of the government for over 40 years. He is currently serving his third term in the Senate. Lacson has authored laws such as the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the Philippine Identification System Act of 2018, and the Reproductive Health Act of 2011. He has long served as a watchdog on the national budget, pushing to delete pork barrel and other questionable insertions during plenary Senate debates. Prior to becoming a lawmaker, he served as chief of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001. He started his career in law enforcement in 1971 as a member of the infamous Metrocom Intelligence Security Group. Lacson denies that he ever took part in the MISG's nefarious activities — such as disappearances and torture of activists and critics of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos — maintaining that he worked on cases involving kidnap for ransom, holdups, and common crimes as a member of the unit's police branch. He also launched a failed bid for the presidency in 2004.

MARIA LEONOR “LENI” ROBREDO, 56: Among those who submitted a SALN, Robredo has the least net worth. She currently sits as the vice president of the Philippines. She is the only woman in the 10-way race. She is also the only lawyer-economist. She is running as an independent, alongside a senatorial ticket with candidates from both the left and the right. She had a declared net worth of P11.9 million as of Dec. 31, 2020. According to her SALN as of December 2020, Robredo inherited a house and lot located in Concepcion, Naga City, a residential land and three agricultural lands in Pamplona, Camarines Sur, and another agricultural land in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. She also inherited a Honda Civic and a Suzuki Celerio.

NORBERTO GONZALES, 74: Gonzales is an self-declared democratic-socialist, whose long career spans activism and union organising, peace talks negotiation and national security adviser, defence secretary and presidential chief of staff appointments under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. He chairs the Philip­pine Democratic Socialist Party, which has roots in the protest movement in the 1970s and participated in the mass campaigns against the Marcos dictatorship, peace talks with the Moro National Liberation Front and the ouster of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

FAISAL MAGONDATO, 59: Mangondato is a businessman who is running as the standard-bearer of the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi party. He was born in Ramain Ditsaan, Lanao del Sur, and currently resides in Marawi City. He launched a failed bid for regional governor of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as an independent in 2016. Three years later, in 2019, he sought a Senate seat in 2019 but did not garner enough votes to win.

LEODY DE GUZMAN 62: Since 1984, De Guzman has been a labour leader who pushed for policies to secure the rights and welfare of Filipino workers. He ran for the senate in 2019 but failed to secure a seat. He currently sits as chairperson of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, a socialist labour centre and federation of militant trade unions. He is running under the opposition coalition Laban ng Masa on a progressive and worker-centric platform hinged on a complete reform of the country’s political system to foster social development and eventually augment the economy. 

ERNESTO “ERNIE” ABELLA, 72: Abella, long-time supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is a businessman, writer, and Christian church pastor. He briefly served as the president’s spokesperson. He is running as an independent candidate, seeking to promote the participation of ordinary citizens and small entrepreneurs in governance, better access to food and healthcare services to children and senior citizens.

DR JOSE MONTEMAYOR JR: Jose Montemayor Jr. works primarily as a cardiologist. He claims to bring a medical, legal and economics background to the presidential race and his first campaign for public office. His tandem with Rizalito David is basing its platform on what the candidates call a faith-based approach to glorify God. Montemayor has expressed his opposition to same-sex unions, abortion (except for medical reasons), divorce and the death penalty. He is campaigning on a 10-point agenda to address COVID-19, eliminate corruption, improve the campaign against illegal drugs, achieve full employment, alleviate poverty and attain economic prosperity. His agenda also includes a holistic approach to the West Philippine Sea, the welfare of migrant Filipinos, press freedom, education, negotiations with rebel groups and advancements in agriculture and infrastructure.