Celso Lobregat Is Richest Mayor In Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Noel Tarrazona / L.A. Zamboanga Times) A document from the Office of the Ombudsman furnished to L.A. Zamboanga Times revealed that Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat is 2005 richest mayor in Mindanao with a net worth of P 35.2 million.

Lobregat's mother, former Zamboanga City leader Maria Clara Lobregat was the richest mayor until her death last January 2004. She was a philanthropist.

Lobregat's business interests included banking, real estate, flower growing, mining, resort and resort development, recreation, petroleum, etc.

Also in the top richest mayor list in the region are Butuan City Mayor Democrito Plaza with a net worth of P8.5 million and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who filed his net worth at P 7.02 million.

The other mayors who filed their SALN for yearend 2004 are Cagayan de Oro’s Vicente Emano (P6.4 M); General Santos’ Pedro Acharon (P6.2 M); Samal City’s Rogelio Antalan (P4.9 M); Bislig’s Alberto Tan (P4.1 M); Koronadal’s Fernando Miguel (P3.79 M): Panabo’s Rey Gavina (P3.7 M); Digos’ Arsenio Latasa (P2.12 M): Dapitan’s Dominador Jalosjos, Jr. (P1.8 M); Malaybalay’s Florencio Flores (P1.59 M); Tacurong’s Lino Montilla (1.57 M).

Meanwhile, Zamboanga Sibugay governor George Hofer, who was consistently number 2 richest since 2001, is now the richest governor of Mindanao, at P74.5 million net worth, followed by Zamboanga del Norte governor Rolando Yebes (P29.6 M) and Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno (P23.2 M). Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario used to be the richest governor but he did not seek reelection last year.

The other governors who filed their SALN for yearend 2004 are Sultan Kudarat’s Pax Mangudadatu (P14M); Maguindanao’s Datu Andal Ampatuan (P12.9M); Davao Oriental’s Ma. Elena Palma Gil (P12.8 M); Agusan del Sur’s Adolph Edward Plaza (P11.3 M); North Cotabato’s Emmanuel Pinol (P6.8 M); Agusan del Norte’s Erlpe John M. Amante (P6.48 M); Sarangani’s Miguel Rene Dominguez (P5.3 M); South Cotabato’s Daisy Fuentes (P2.4 M) and Misamis Oriental’s Loreto Leo Ocampos at P1.8 M.

The Ombudsman’s Memorandum-Circular 95-73 issued on June 15, 1995, requires the administrative/personnel division of a government agency to consolidate all the SALNs of the officials and employees in a summary report and together with the SALNs, shall be “submitted/mailed on or before 31 May of every year” to the Office of the Debuy Ombudsman for Mindanao in the case of Mindanao’s elective officials. (Noel Tarrazaona is L.A. Zamboanga Times deputy bureau chief for Zamboanga City)