SEN. Ralph Recto’s office spent P116.824 million in 2020 to top the list of 24 senators based on a breakdown of the P2.256 billion total expenses of the Senate released by the Commission on Audit yesterday.
The expense report, the first of its kind posted by the COA on its official website, included each senator’s salaries; extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses; local and foreign travels of the lawmakers and their staff; staff wages and benefits; professional and consultancy fees; rental of vehicles and equipment; meetings and conferences; and other items categorized as “other maintenance and operating expenses (OMOE).”
The COA released only the breakdown of expenses without any finding of irregularity or questions of impropriety.
Senate president Tito Sotto was at second spot with P107.692 million in total expenses last year.
Other than Recto and Sotto, six other senators breached the P100 million mark.
They were Senators Sherwin Gatchalian (P104.908 million), Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (P104.35 million), Francis Pangilinan (P104.189 million), Manny Pacquiao (P103.84 million), Juan Miguel Zubiri (P103.225 million), and Grace Poe- Llamanzares (P100.448 million).
At ninth place is Sen. Leila de Lima (P97.853 million) with Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (P96.961 million) at 10th spot.
The lowest spenders for 2020 were first-term Sen. Bong Go (P65.496 million) and Sen. Franklin Drilon (P73.797 million).
The full list arranged by their expense shares: 1. Sen. Ralph Recto — P116.824M; 2. Senate President Tito Sotto — P107.692M; 3. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian — P104.908M; 4. Sen. Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa — P104.35M; 5. Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan — P104.189M; 6. Sen. Manny Pacquiao — P103.84M; 7. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri — P103.225M;
8. Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares — P100.448M; 9. Sen. Leila de Lima — P97.853M; 10. Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. — P96.961M; 11. Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III — P96.859M; 12. Sen. Richard Gordon — P95.587M; 13. Sen. Nancy Binay — P95.405M; 14. Sen. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel — P94.471M; 15. Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid — P93.694M;
16. Sen. Imee Marcos — P92.802M; 17. Sen. Panfilo “Piing” Lacson – P90.217M; 18. Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara — P89.182M; 19. Sen. Francis Tolentino — P85.899M; 20. Sen. Pia Cayetano — P84.763M; 21. Sen. Joel Villanueva — P81.852M; 22. Sen. Cynthia Villar — P75.658M; 23. Sen. Franklin Drilon — P73.797M; 24. Sen. Bong Go — P65.496M.
The 24 members of the Senate collected P78.501 million in combined salaries but incurred P267.248 million in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses.
Grounded by restrictions due to the raging COVID-19 pandemic, local travel expenses of senators in 2020 amounted to only P9.934 million while foreign trips totaled P1.425 million.
