Bankers, diplomats, and senior legal officers once again dominated the list of highest-paid government officials in 2024, according to the Commission on Audit (COA) report released this week.
Leading the pack is Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr., who received a total of ₱47.97 million in salary and allowances last year—a significant jump from his ₱35.48 million in 2023. His deputy, Chuchi Fonacier, followed with ₱30.39 million.
Other top earners from BSP include Deputy Governors Francisco Dakila Jr. (₱28.82 million), Elmore Capule (₱26.54 million), and Monetary Board members Romeo Bernardo and Rosalia de Leon, each receiving over ₱25 million. The data also listed former BSP Governor and now Monetary Board Member Benjamin Diokno with ₱23.52 million.
The annual report, which spans 1,443 pages and was posted on the COA website on May 26, detailed the combined gross earnings of officials from government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), national agencies, and state universities.
The 11th spot went to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra with ₱23 million in earnings—₱5 million higher than the previous year. Supreme Court justices and executives from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) also made the top 20.
Among them were SC Associate Justices Ramon Hernando (₱22.3 million) and Mario Lopez (₱19.6 million), Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo (₱19.1 million), Pagcor Chair Alejandro Tengco (₱21.05 million), and DBP CEO Michael de Jesus (₱18.5 million).
The report also covered indirect or “reimbursable” benefits—like housing and overseas allowances—largely enjoyed by diplomats. Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr. topped this category with ₱30.1 million in benefits, including nearly ₱8 million in overseas allowance and quarters/post allowances.
He was followed by Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz (₱20.9 million), WTO envoy Manuel Teehankee (₱15.4 million), and ambassadors to Korea and the UN, who each received over ₱14 million in benefits.
Cabinet secretaries, whose pay is aligned with the salary standardization law, earned far less in comparison. Among them, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had the highest at ₱5.28 million. Others like Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin earned between ₱4.8 and ₱5.2 million.
Notably, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s name appeared in the report, but the entry for his salary reflected “0.” Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, was listed with ₱423,454.83 in total compensation.
