May 4, 2011 19:12:39
World boxing superstar and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquaio is the country's richest congressman with over P1 billion of declared wealth, an administrative officer of the House of Representatives said Wednesday.
Lawyer Ricardo Bering of the chamber's Records Management Service said that based on an initial assessment of last year's statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) submitted by lawmakers, Pacquiao topped the wealthiest House members in the 15th Congress.
"Congressman Pacquiao is the richest. He declared more than a billion pesos net worth," he told reporters Wednesday.
ESPN Magazine pegged Pacquiao's total earnings from boxing matches to $32 million (almost P1.3 billion) last year.
The Filipino boxing icon is set to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against American Sugar Shane Mosley on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
In 2010, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, wife of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., was the richest House member, with total declared wealth of P98.12 million.