Bangko Sentral ng PIlipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno became richer by P19.79 million last year to become the highest paid government executive in the country, the Commission on Audit has revealed.
Placing third in the 2019 Report of Salaries and Allowances that COA released last year, Diokno, who earned a total P19,791,846,32 in 2020, replaced United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) President and CEO HIginio O. Macadaeg whose total pay of P13.223,075.47 in the top spot.
The UCPB official dropped to ninth spot.
Controversial Solicitor General Jose C. Calida, received the second largest salary and allowances in 2020, with P15,657,848.49 or P1,294,994.80 lower than his 2019 earnings.
In 2019, Calida’s gross earnings was computed at P16,952,843.27 put him to fourth place, according to the 2019 ROSA.
The ROSA contained a list of 8,737 public officials and a few private individuals who received salaries, allowances and other emoluments from government.
A total 284 of the executives had “0” earnings but were included in the list. Among them were former and incumbent congressmen.
Executive Vice President Eulogio Catabran of the United Coconut Planters Bank received P15,461,222.77 from the government to make him the third highest paid official.
Aside from Diokno, seven other BSP officials were ranked among the top 20 top earners in government.
Also making it to the top 20 list were four government corporate executives, namely Rolando L. Macasaet of the Government Service Insurance System; Emmanuel G. Herbosa of the Development Bank of the Philippines, Catabran and Macadaeg.
Macasaet, GSIS president and general manager, is No. 4 in the list, having been paid P15,256,735.66 in 2020.
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas -Bernabe, was ranked no. 5, making her the highest earner among the High Court magistrates with P15,203,609.04 total pay.
Recently-retired SC Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta took seventh with total earnings of P14,525,266.86.
Names of four other SC magistrates - namely, Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Paul Ramon Hernando and current Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, could be found in the top 20 of the ROSA.
In a letter sent to President Rodrigo Duterte, COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo said the ROSA reflects the total salaries and allowances received by principal officers and members of the governing boards of government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries; Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, asst. secretaries and other officials of equivalent rank of the national government.
The top 20 earners:
1. Benjamin E. Diokno - BSP - P19,791,546
2. Jose C. Calida - OSG 15,657,848.49
3. Eulogio V. Catabran III UCPB 15,461,222.77
4. Rolando L. Macasaet GSIS 15,256,735.66
5. Estela Perlas-Bernabe SC 15,203,60.04
6. Ma. Almasara T. Amador BSP 15,154,987.98
7. Diosdado M. Peralta SC 14,525,266.66
8. Chuch G. Fonacier BSP 14,349,317.33
9. Higinio O. Macadaeg Jr. UCPB 13,223,075.47
10. Dahlia D. Luna BSP 12,637,475.19
11. Ma. Ramona T. Santiago BSP 12,537,400.56
12. Francisco G. Dakila Jr. BSP 11,642,612.36
13. Emmanuel G. Herbosa DBP 11,463,453.73
14. Emilio B. Aquino SEC 11,210,369.56
15. Marvic Mario F. Leonen SC 10,676,796.00
16. Alfredo S. Caguioa SC 10,489,920.00
17. Alexander G. Gesmundo SC 10,464,158.00
18. Ramon Paul L. Hernando SC 10,156,647.22
19. Peter B. Favila BSP 10,117,225.56
20. Felipe M. Medalla BSP 10,103,000.44