Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Sen. Manny and Cynthia Villar own 2 California properties; senator’s SALN does not list them

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By Raïssa Robles

The billionaire Villar couple own two properties in Glendale, California, Senator Manny Villar confirmed to me last year in an ambush interview.

Before I go on, I would like to thank a California Fil-Am lawyer named “Steve” who called my attention to these properties. It was also “Steve” who gave me last year the details on the California property of Charina Corona, daughter of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. “Steve” asked not to be identified for now.

Steve provided me with the documents showing that Senator Villar owned two properties on the same street in Glendale, California.

The first property is at No. 812-E Chestnut Street:

The second property is at No. 816-E Chestnut St.:

 

I asked Senator Villar whether he had declared the two properties he had bought in cash for US$460,000 each or for a total amount of US$920,000 in the year 2011.

“Yes,” he replied and added that he was retiring from politics.

I asked Sen. Villar where he had declared the properties in his 2011 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. I told him I could not find them listed anywhere in his 2011 SALN.

Villar told me it was declared together with the rest of his real properties.

Sen. Villar did declare “other real and personal properties” worth a total of P630,396,156. But he did not provide a breakdown of these properties.

I asked him whether such a lumpsum declaration was a sufficient fulfillment of the SALN law.

He said “Yes.” He told me there was no need for a breakdown.

Sen. Villar must know what he’s talking about because according to his bio in the Senate website:

“He started his professional career as an accountant and financial analyst for prominent corporations before venturing into his own business.”

I could not ask him more questions because he said he had a meeting to attend.

At that time of my ambush interview, the candidacy of his wife Cynthia for senator was still up in the air.

But now, she is running for senator. Cynthia Villar served for three terms as congresswoman and was replaced by her son Mark in 2010.

When Senator Villar filed his SALN last year, it was at the height of the impeachment trial of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. Corona was on trial for failing to declare his wealth properly in his SALNs.

Villar was among the senator-judges who said Corona was guilty and voted to sack him on May 30, 2012. Villar said during the impeachment trial voting:

“My vote is for the conviction of the Chief Justice. Nahirapan po ako sa desisyon na ito.”

Republic Act No. 6713 or the SALN Law states in Section 8 that government officials have to enumerate their real properties insofar as their improvements, acquisition costs, assessed value and current fair market value are concerned:

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713

SECTION 8. Statements and Disclosure. — Public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

(A) Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Financial Disclosure. — All public officials and employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, laborers and casual or temporary workers, shall file under oath their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and a Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections and those of their spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

The two documents shall contain information on the following:
(a) real property, its improvements, acquisition costs, assessed value and current fair market value;
(b) personal property and acquisition cost;
(c) all other assets such as investments, cash on hand or in banks, stocks, bonds, and the like;
(d) liabilities, and;
(e) all business interests and financial connections.

Senator Villar provided none of those details. But as I said, he should know. He’s an accountant.

He told me that the manner by which he filled out his SALN was sufficient fulfillment of RA 6713 or “An Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, to uphold the time-honored principle of public office being a public trust, granting incentives and rewards for exemplary service, enumerating prohibited acts and transactions and providing penalties for violations thereof and for other purposes.”

Please see his 2011 SALN below.

I do not have a copy of Cynthia Villar’s SALNs when she was a three-term congresswoman. But she co-signed Senator Villar’s 2011 SALN and so it’s safe to assume she knows about it. Like her husband, she also finished a Business Administration degree at the University of the Philippines. In addition, she has a masters degree in Business Administration from New York University.

If you believe that Senator Villar’s SALN is properly filled up and would have withstood a trial similar to that of Ex-CJ Corona, vote Cynthia Villar to the Senate. Their son Mark Villar is also running for reelection in Congress.

As you can see from both grant deeds submitted to the State of California record office, both properties are owned personally by the spouses. These are not owned by any of their corporations.

I am not saying at all that Senator Villar stole any money. On the contrary, the Villar couple can well afford the California properties and much more, given their huge net worth and highly successful realty business.

All I’m saying is that anyone who wants to run for public office has to be transparent about his wealth. Nobody forced the Villars to run for office. Transparency and accountability are the price of entry to a public position that brings with it untold rewards and temptations.

 

Comments

  1. Manny and nancy are obviously hiding something in their 2011 joint SALN.

    Under the column Assets, 1(a) pertains to real properties while 1(b) pertains to personal and other properties.
    To hide or deceive the public, their 1(b) include Investment in Shares of Stocks P219,228,941 and Other REAL and Personal Properties P630,396,156.

    It is apparent that the villars are not being honest to the public with the likely motive of muddling the issue on their true real property holdings, possibly to hide something which is violative of the SALN law.

    How can nancy be trusted as a senator if ever she wins????????

  2. Obviously, just like the Binays, Estradas, Enriles, Marcoses, Aquinos, Cayetanos, Singsons and many more, the Villars are doing business in politics. They have their own Political Dynasty which is good for their family but bad for the country. Public service is a Public Trust. How can you trust someone who mis-declare his SALN? They removed Corona for a show knowing that they do the same evilness. It’s time to hang government officials who betray the people that put them in power. Otherwise, next election, they will be back again with more selfish motives.

  3. ayus another ‘issue’ about the villars, bakit nga lang wala ako nababasa na ganito sa normal na araw? yung tipong hindi nalalapit yung election? do you have anything about bam or legarda? (pakipost naman dito, wala ako makita using the search bar)

  5. Election….. Hell-ection in the Philippines.. means another satan will be in command!!!!!!!!!!

  6. related topic:

    i find this very funny, this was posted as a comment in inquirer online, referring to nancy B…..

    Ang Anak ng Maligno

    By Mita
    (bow)

    Ako ay anak na nagmana sa anino
    Ng amang maliit at maitim na maligno
    Tungkulin kong tangi mula una kong iyak
    Ang pagiging alalay ng tatay kong tiyanak.

    Nang maging Alkalde si Tatay sa siyudad
    Ang aming pamilya ay biglang umunlad
    Ako’y nakaipon sa iilang taon
    Ng sahod ni Tatay na bilyon bilyon.

    Inutos ni Tatay na ako’y mag-Senador
    Upang siya’y magkamit ng isang kubrador
    Na kapos man sa dunong at karanasan
    Mahigit pa sa lotto ang tatamaan.

    Butihin kong pakay kung mahalal nga
    Suriing lubos ang tungkol sa Sabah
    Upang aninawin ang mithi ng nayon
    Kung maruya o turon sila sang-ayon.

    Sa aking kampanya dagsa ang mga tao
    Madlang nasiyahan sa bayad ng maligno
    Lahat ay masigabong nagpapalakpakan
    Upang pagtakpan ang aking kapalpakan.

    Ito ang tiyak pagdating ko sa Senado
    Yaman ni Tatay ay yayabong pang lalo
    Dambong at kurakot ang siyang lalaganap
    Sa bayan na lalong mababaon sa hirap.

  7. Nahuli…! 42 years in gov’t service! Removed for falsification of credentials by the Ombudsman office –

    “Consul sacked for lies
    By Merck Maguddayao | Posted on Apr. 06, 2013 at 12:02am | 2,915 views

    17

    The Ombudsman has dismissed from government service Philippine Consul-General to Japan Maria Lourdes Ramiro-Lopez for making false claims about her civil status and educational attainment, officials said on Friday.”

    It was about her “civil status” among others.

    How about many of our gov’t officials’ “mental status?” Can they be removed also? Candidates too?

    Yes, to both questions. On the last, mentally DO NOT VOTE for them!

    • @mam leona, marami po mga fake documents ang mga civil servants. meron po akong supervisor noon na iba ang edad sa GSIS at iba agn edad sa SSS. pereho po syang tumatanggap ng pension sa SSS pero sabay na nagtra trabaho sa govt office.
      noong kapanahunan ko po walang nakikialam dahil kahit may alam takot na baka madismiss sa work at mapaginitan sa performance rating kaya pinababyaaan na lang. kahit sa educational attainment wala kasing panahon magverify sa mga schools ang personnel staff. kaya lusot.

      • Thanks @pinay710. Buhay pa kaya siya? If yes, ‘di pa siya lusot! Last bad breath not yet done. hehehe.

        • @mam leona, palagay ko sumalangit (?) na siguro sya. dahil 20 yrs na po ang nakalipas mula matuklasan ko yun. whistleblower din po ako noon nagtratrabaho ako kaya lang ako po ang naging masama. ok lang kahit paano binago ng tanggapan ang systema. kung may pagkakataon pa ulit ako gagawin ko ulit na isiwalat ang mga hindi tamang gawain at pangsasamantala sa kapwa.kawaawa po ang mg pangkaraniwang kawani na nababalewala ang sikap sa pagtatrabaho na hindi umaasenso dahil sa sumusunod sa tama at legal na paraan.

    • @ leona,

      Ito ang kagandahan nang tuwid na daan ni Pnoy dahil mayroon nakikitang napaparusahan kahit may implowensiya at mapera ang nakakasuhan. Dapat lang na ang Batas ay pantay pantay sa lahat mayaman man o mahirap, mapera man o dukha? tulad din nang ginawa kay G.M.A. at ABALOS et. al..at kay convicted thief justice nato corona of the supreme court. sana madagdagan pa para matakot mga TUTA at CORRUPT at magsilbing halimbawa at nang hindi PAMARISAN…

      • @jorge bernas…I totally agree! But, still not enough though…these people are NOT in their proper jail cells…the summer heat inside would add spaciously to their mental agonies!

        When will detained culprits be in jail cells? VIP pa rin ang treatment at expensive hospitals. Their gimmicks and excuses are still working though.

        When? While there are so many ordinary detainees in just-TIS in those jail cells. No different from where I’m writing this…the heat the heat is unforgiving….phewwwww.

        When kaya?

      • @ sir jorge bernas, ano na po ang nangyari sa mga LIGOT, GARCIA ang mga HENERALES na nangurakot? nawala na ang balita? nagamit kaya nila ang mag kinurakot nila para makatakas sila sa batas? ang mahihirap pagka nagkasala kulong agad ang mga katulad nilang matataas kayang tumakas? SAWIMPALAD NA MAHIHIRAP KASI HINDI MARUNONG MAGNAKAW.

      • @sir jorge bernas, ano na po ang nangyari sa mga LIGOT, GARCIA at sa mga HENERALES na mangungurakot? ginamit na yata nila ang mga kinurakot nila para makatakas sa batas. pagka mahirap madaling ikulong pagka mayaman nakakatagal sa labas ng kulungan. kawawang mga mahihirap. wala silang lakas sa batas.

        • @ pinay710,

          Tama ka, Maaaring nakatakas naman mga henerales sa batas pero itong panandalian lamang dahil darating din ang araw na sila ay uusigin nang kanilang konsensiya tulad nang nangyari kay sec. angelo reyes na piniling magpaka TUTA para sa mga kasamahang CORRUPT at mapagsamantala…

          Darating din ang KARMA sa mga Mandarambong at SAKIM…

        • @jorge bernas sir, tagal naman ang KARMA. eh tapos yung mga nakulimbat nila kalahati lang ang pinapayagan ng batas na ibalik. saka MERON PA KAYA SILANG KONSENSYA? TAGAL NG DIOS MAGBATOK SA KANILA.

  8. According to Villar, it was enough that he declared the corporation (which he owns) that owns another corporation. He says he (his family) doesn’t own it but the corporation that he owns. Di ba ang pagmamayari ng pag-aari nya ay pag-aari nya rin. Anlabo! Ilan pa kayang masalimuot na gawaing ganito ang nakatago? Here’s the letter of Villar to PCIJ’s Malou Mangahas:

    April 1, 2013

    Ms. Malou Mangahas
    Executive Director
    Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

    Dear Ms. Mangahas,

    I reply to your letter dated March 25, 2013.

    Awesome Dragon Holdings Limited is a US$1 shell company owned by my family’s investment holding company, Fine Properties, Inc. It was put in place in 2007 to serve as ready corporate vehicle for any strategic multinational business opportunity that may become available. It is a practice in the business to have a corporate vehicle that can be readily used when the need arises.

    However, this particular shell company is dormant and so it has remained, up to now, a shell company without any asset and with no more than its original capital of one American dollar (US$ 1.00).

    I am indicated as owner of said company because we were informed that if a company wants to incorporate a subsidiary-company in the British Virgin Islands, said company is required to identify the natural person or persons who is/are the ultimate shareholder/s of said company.

    While having a BVI company may be abused by some, there is actually nothing sinister about owning one, especially this company that was never used and has a capital of only a single dollar. This is being done by big companies worldwide.

    Awesome Dragon Holdings Limited does not appear in my Sworn Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SSALN) because I do not own it – it is owned by Fine Properties, Inc. Fine Properties, Inc. has not made any investment in said company that would have required registration with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. If and when it will, I assure you that I will see to it that all applicable rules and regulations are complied with.

    In any case, Fine Properties has been identified in my SSALN and listed appropriately.

    Let me also state that the BVI company was not used because I decided to concentrate in the Philippines. As a businessman and eventually as a public official, I am proud to say that I invested heavily in the country economic-wise and generated employment opportunities for Filipinos.

    Thank you.

    Very truly yours,

    • …and AWESOME explanation indeed!

      The real truth is avoided indeed. Legal fictions are preferred indeed.

      Indeed it makes them ‘holier than thou’ and able to go around the law. A clean shot indeed!

      Public trust is trashed indeed! Go on…if one thinks it has complied that trust, it hasn’t. I say NO!

      No vote indeed! Btw, the Villar are into PD…political dynasty indeed! Thanks Raissa and @Mafe.

    • With the quoted remarks of Sen. Villar –

      “Villar was among the senator-judges who said Corona was guilty and voted to sack him on May 30, 2012. Villar said during the impeachment trial voting:

      “My vote is for the conviction of the Chief Justice. Nahirapan po ako sa desisyon na ito.”

      I or We are sure he won’t have any difficulty really ‘FILLING UP’ truthfully his SALN which is just filling and writing up the truth as ex-CJ Corona is not involved in it.

  9. To those who says “…paki research po….”

    Try yourself to GET even a TIP of the ICEBERG or if possible the WHOLE of it so Raissa can really have a good reason to get into it…

    Be a good amateur SLEUTH for the good of all…get copies of documents, etc. Not the ‘kuno-kuno’ types.

    HELPING is the term. TULONG…sakLOLO!

  10. good day Riassa. dito po sa amin, Mis. Occ po, mi-isang kandidato for congressman na kaalyado ni Mrs. Villar..pare-pare po sila ng mga racket. ang pangalan po ay si vice-guv Henry Oaaminal po…

    isang contractor etong si vice guv at marami etong pinatalbog na mga projects at mga tseke according po ssa mga researchers sa kabilang kampo…

    paki-research po maam Raissa…

      • i’d like to share the seemingly political dynasty in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de oro, in the family of EMANO.

        From Governor of the province to mayor to vice mayor and mayor of Cagayan de oro.

        And also of Camiguin province of Romualdo family.

        These are untouchables. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!

        • @hurtlocker1….two places na yun! Arrrrf ARFFffff! Barkings at political dynasties.

          Anybody giving more places ….ARFFFFF! We’re into monarchies and kingdoms these days!

          ARFFF!

        • @ hurtlocker1,

          Dapat sana ninyong tandaan kaya naging untouchables mga sinasabi mo dahil sa mga BOBO at TANGANG BOTANTE na nagbenta nang BOTO tuwing halalan…Gumising na kayo???

          NO TO VOTE BUYING…
          NO TO POLITICAL DYNASTIES….

        • jorge bernas, please let us not put all the blame on bobo at tanga na mga botante for all the evils happening in our country. they’re hungry and will accept anything to alleviate hunger, pain and suffering just for a day.

          if our very smart mambabatas cannot enforced our constitution, tumatanggap sila ng mga pabuya’t kickbacks, our peace and order personnel cannot tell the difference between right and wrong at nangongotong, our school, colleges and universities more concern about status quo than education, people in high authorities not doing their jobs, they’re the ones that let down the system, let our country down. and they all point their finger at the bobo at tanga na mga botante. easier to do than correct themselves. always put the blame on others less fortunate and cannot defend themselves. blame those higher up and they’ll have droves of lawyers defending them, lawyers who circumvent the law, judges who’ll decide in their favor.

          yes, it’s easier to blame the bobo at mga tanga na botante for all the evils in our country. nobody is speaking up for them. nobody sides with the poor.

  11. thanks Raissand Steve for another mini tsunami
    to hit the Phil polluted political shore.

    No other noble choice for Madame Villar
    after that “nursing disaster” and this
    CPM earthquake but to WITHDRAW HER
    CANDIDACY. It was a mountain subtly
    turned into a molehill, but Raissa and
    Steve like magical David Copperfield
    remove the shroud and revealed the
    covered mountain.

    • WE NEED MORE OF THIS UNRAVELING. These
      revelations of facts and figures, damning they may be
      for ALL those who seek public office. Caveat Emptor
      for voters, a chance for them to know what’s inside
      the closets, YET STILL VOTE FOR THEM, THEN
      NO ONE IS TO BLAME but them who refuse to wake
      up and move their butts to clean up..

  13. In one of my previous comments, after listening to BALUARTE where

    Some families derive their power from being landowners, then getting more cash. are then able to buy more land, so their POWER GOES ON – ANG YAMAN!

    Some derive their POWER FROM POWER – Being elected Mayor, si Anak Vice-Mayor who presides over the Council, some members of which are also kamag-anak OR KAALYADO. They FIX THE LAWS so that their
    interests are maintained in their baluarte (Of course they have landholdings in other places, provinces and resorts – and abroad)- pero itong encomienda nila di pwedeng pakawalan…
    MALALIM AT MASALIMUOT pero kayang maintindihan.

    These politicians LOOK SQUEAKY CLEAN, mukha tuloy “malinis”

  14. WoW! From abs-cbnnews – portion news saysMysterious mail triggers global tax-haven probe
    by Jeremy Tordjman, Agence France-Presse
    Posted at 04/05/2013 7:40 PM | Updated as of 04/05/2013 7:40 PM

    WASHINGTON – The cascade of WikiLeaks-style revelations shedding light on the often murky world of offshore tax havens began when Gerard Ryle received a mysterious letter in the post.

    The experienced investigative journalist had been busy trying to unravel the details of a large financial fraud in his native Australia when the prospect of an even bigger scoop landed on his doormat.

    The letter contained part of a hard drive with the details of 2.5 million digital files, a treasure trove that would ultimately yield information on 120,000 offshore companies and nearly 130,000 individuals.

    Ryle, who moved to Washington to head the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) soon after receiving the hard drive, admits he was not entirely sure what he was dealing with at first.

    “My instinct told me it was big but you do not know,” Ryle told AFP. Technical impediments also frustrated his early attempts to pore over the information he had received.

    “The files were almost impossible to read, they kept crashing my computer,” Ryle said. “I’ve seen a lot of names from all around the world; they were people that meant nothing to me.

    “I just did what any reporter would do — you just go on the Internet and you Google them.”

    In his capacity as head of the ICIJ, a non-governmental organization founded in 1997 to help co-ordinate the work of reporters seeking to uncover corruption, Ryle set about mobilizing a worldwide army of journalists to help mine the rich seam of information he had received.

    “It’s always been on my mind to get some help from reporters all around the world,” Ryle said. “The ICIJ was the perfect vehicle.”

    The investigative journalists are coming! Run but one cannot hide…Seek and you shall find!

    120, 000 offshore companies and 160,000 individuals in tax havens. Do we have 5,000+ here?

    “

    • Further to this story, The Guardian UK published an article on the 3rd of April 2013 called “Leaks reveal secrets of the rich who hide cash offshore”, based on research conducted by the ICIJ.
      It says that The British Virgin Islands is the world’s leading offshore haven used by an array of government officials and rich families to hide their wealth.

      ” Sample offshore owners named in the leaked files include:
      • A dictator’s child in the Philippines: Maria Imelda Marcos Manotoc, a provincial governor, is the eldest daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos, notorious for corruption.”

      Here’s a link to the article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/03/offshore-secrets-offshore-tax-haven

  15. Wow! Raissa … now that we have a month before the election … this article is a great contribution to all of us Filipinos that will soon elect the members of Congress.

    I hope you will write more articles about their SALN’s. And I hope that your blogs will be read by more and more voters … so come election time … we could call ourselves the informed voters of RP.

    Thank you and more power!