Senate leaders Ralph Recto and Juan Miguel Zubiri had the most expenses among outgoing and incumbent senators in 2019, a report from the Commission on Audit Report (COA) published on Wednesday, February 24, showed.
According to an itemized list signed by supervising auditor Marilyn Roxas-Laurente, Recto, who is Senate President Pro Tempore, incurred expenses of P113,484,153.02 from January 1 to December 31, 2019.
Majority Leader Zubiri, meanwhile, incurred a total expenses of P110,625,189.05 for the year. Of the amount, P6.9 million went to local and foreign travel expenses, P38.46 million for salaries, and P28.9 million for other MOE.
The COA report listed expenditures for Tthe salaries and benefits of his staff; expenses for local and foreign travels; meetings and conferences; professional and consultancy fees; supplies and materials' rental of motor vehicles or equipment; extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, other miscellaneous and operating expenses (MOE) and capital outlay.
The COA report said that Recto spent P5.48 million for the expenses of his travel and P47.33 million for the wages of his staff members, and P24.92 million for other MOE.
Both senators did not dispute the COA report.
"I do not dispute the statement. I fully cooperated with COA. Included in the expenses are donations and aid to people and places in distress," Recto said in a text message sent to reporters.
"I stand by the legislative work, research and output of my policy team," he added.
Zubiri also pointed out that 2019 was an "election year, thus, some of the Senators' expenditures covered only half-year and not a full year period."
He added that Senate officers, namely the Senate President, President Pro-Tempore, Majority Leader and the Minority Leader "also have additional budget due to the additional work they have in those leadership positions."
"Thus most likely, they will incur more expenses as compared with other senators," he said.
The report said that Senate President Vicente Sotto III spent P102,019,240.91 while Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon spent P79,753,698.44 in 2019.
The COA report also included new and returning senators after the midterm elections, as well as then outgoing members of the Senate.
Of the recently-elected senators, Senator Christopher Go so far registered the least amount of expenses after assuming office in July, 2019. The report said he spent P33,744,500.52; shelling out only P703,125 for local travels, P10.95 million for salaries, and P9.83 million for other MOE.
Here's how much the incumbent and former senators spent in 2019, arranged from highest to lowest, based on the COA report:
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto - P113,484,153.02
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri - P110,625,189.05
Sen. Grace Poe - P107,124,152.64
Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao - 106,999,087.83
Sen. Leila de Lima - P106,447,424.95
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III - P105,664,250.13
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian - P105,278,449.35
Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan - P105,253,403.53
Senate President Vicente Sotto III - P102,019,240.91
Sen. Richard Gordon - P99,286,106.95
Sen. Nancy Binay - P94,153,718.68
Sen. Risa Hontiveros - P94,128,513.91
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson - P93,673,516.18
Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara - P90,730,266.86
Sen. Joel Villanueva - P82,550,407.31
Sen. Cynthia Villar - P82,179,400.27
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon - P79,753,698.44
Former Sen. Bam Aquino - P69,473,846.67
Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV - P68,445,906.63
Former Sen. and incumbent DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan - P62,484,641.39
Former Sen. and current Sorsogon Gov. Francis "Chiz" Escudero - P59,954,463.35
Former Sen. and incumbent Antique Rep. Loren Legarda - P58,375,369.52
Former Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito - P57,823,985.24
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. - P48,402,484.85
Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa - P46,674,682.38
Sen. Lito Lapid - P45,141,531.82
Sen. Imee Marcos - P40,934,901.31
Sen. Pia Cayetano - P40,333,669.43.
Sen. Francis Tolentino - P39,265,603.55
Sen. Christopher Go - P33,744,500.52