A SITTING SENATOR who gave his wife an engagement ring worth three times the amount he declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), now claims to be the poorest member of the upper legislative chamber.
Based on his SALN covering calendar year 2024, Senator Francis Escudero, who forms part of the list of elected officials being investigated over links into the flood control scandal, declared a net worth amounting to ₱18.84 million, for which he notched the title of being the poorest member of the Philippine Senate.
He listed five real properties, all acquired by succession in 2013, ₱11.7 million cash, ₱4.95 million worth of jewelry and other personal properties, and five vintage cars.
Also listed in his SALN is a portion which states he’s a partner at Escudero Marasigan Vallente & E.H. Villareal Law Offices.
Interestingly though, Escudero in February 2024 gifted his wife, socialite Heart Evangelista, a paraíba tourmaline gemstone estimated to be worth $1 million which translates to more or less ₱58 million.
RICHEST SENATOR
As expected, Senator Mark Villar, who is also among the personalities facing probe into the flood control anomalies, emerged as the richest member of the Philippine Senate as per his SALN.
In his 2024 SALN, Villar who is a direct descendant of the country’s richest individual — former Senate President Manny Villar — declared with a net worth of ₱1,261,337,817.
Except for one, his immediate family members — father Manny, mother Cynthia and Camille, have (had) stints in the Philippine Senate. Mark’s sister Camille, an incumbent senator, declared a net worth amounting to ₱362,073,819 as of June 2025.
The family also owns one the country’s biggest business empires in the country.
Notably though, the country’s richest sitting senator served as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary during the previous administration.
TULFO BROTHERS
The second and third spots in the senate list of richest belong to the Tulfo brothers, with Senators Raffy and Erwin Tulfo listed at ₱1,052,977,100 and ₱497,003,425.13, respectively.
Raffy is in himself a media empire that earned him a seat in the Senate through Raffy Tulfo In Action.
He is listed as the president and trustee of Raffy Tulfo in Action Foundation Incorporated, and a director at RW Productions Incorporated and Idol Network Philippines Incorporated.
Erwin declared owning stocks in three companies, being a partner in one, and owning a sole proprietorship. He however redacted the names of all companies in which he has business interests.
Before being elected senator, Erwin was Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2022 and a congressman as ACT-CIS Representative from 2023 to 2025.
POOREST SENATOR
Until Escudero explains, the title of “Poorest Senator” belongs to Risa Hontiveros.
The first to release her SALN voluntarily, Hontiveros listed her net worth at ₱18,986,258.21 as of 2024, a slight increase from ₱16,720,359.73 in 2020. Hontiveros declared owning shares in a dive resort called Planet Dive Incorporated, being a member of the New Rural Bank of San Leonardo Incorporated, and serving as a director at La Luna Corporation.
She also listed three real properties worth ₱8.7 million, ₱3.6 million in cash deposits, a 2014 Toyota Innova, a Toyota Fortuner, equity in an installment purchase worth ₱3 million, some furniture, fixtures, appliances, jewelry, books, and a car loan with Toyota Financials worth ₱897,840.
BILLIONAIRE’S HUSBAND
Meanwhile, Kiko Pangilinan is the next poorest senator with ₱26,738,597.97 net worth as of June 2025, a slight increase from ₱23,941,333.25 in 2020.
He listed seven land properties worth ₱5.8 million, ₱7.96 million in cash, furniture, fixtures, jewelry, books, journals, vehicles, and shares of stock.
In an interview with Bilyonaryo, former Ombudsman Samuel Martires—who issued the order barring the release of SALNs without the consent of the person—questioned Pangilinan’s SALN.
“Why did he also file a SALN of ₱23 million? Is that believable? Why didn’t he let his wife, Sharon Cuneta, join or state her assets and liabilities in his SALN?” Martires said.
This was in response to Pangilinan’s post on social media urging Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to release Martires’ own SALN.
Pangilinan and billionaire wife Sharon Cuneta, as well as Escudero and Evangelista, have a prenuptial agreement separating their properties by law.