Ricardo Silverio
Ricardo Cruz Silverio (November 29, 1929 – December 11, 2016[1]) was a Filipino businessman and politician. He represented the 3rd district of Bulacan in the Philippine House of Representatives from 1992 until 2001, and mayor of San Rafael from 2001 to 2010. He was known among his political constituents as "Tata Carding". Business careerSilverio started as a salesman of a textile firm in Divisoria, which he later owned.[2] Silverio founded Delta Motor Corporation in 1962,[3] which assembled and distributed Toyota automobiles in the Philippines.[4] While his company flourished, he became identified as one of Ferdinand Marcos' cronies.[5] The company established the Toyota basketball team, coached by his racecar driver nephew Dante Silverio,[6][7] and paraded by Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz.[8][7] But in 1984 due to political disfavor,[9] Delta Motor Corporation ceased operations and was dissolved in 1988.[9][10] Silverio also owned other companies including the now-defunct Air Manila.[2] But due to nationalization of airline in mid-1970s, Air Manila was merged with the Philippine Airlines. Congressional careerSilverio got elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, represented the 3rd district of Bulacan,[2] and served from 1992 until 2001.[2] He also served as Mayor of San Rafael from 2001 (which he won in close fight) to 2010.[2] He attempt to return to his congressional seat, but lost to Jonjon Mendoza.[11] Court casesIn 2021, the Sandiganbayan would dismiss the complaint filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government against the Marcoses, Silverio and his associate Pablo Carlos Jr. for failure to prove allegations against the respondents.[12] The points mentioned in the case included the alleged improper payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars by the two businessmen to the Marcoses in exchange for a contract to supply Kawasaki scrap loaders and Toyota rear dump trucks, grant of three consecutive year special accommodations, privileges, and exemptions from the Central Bank through increased dollar import quota allocation for the importation of Toyota vehicles for Delta Motor and air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment and obtaining a multi-million peso emergency loans as additional capital infusion to Filipinas Bank (Filmanbank), a banking institution owned by Silverio.[12] Personal lifeSilverio was married to Beatriz Sison until her death in 1987.[13] He later married Lorna Cillian (née Javier)[14] on March 27, 1998.[15] She worked as a reservation and ticketing Agent to Air Manila beginning in 1968. They have son named Victor Anthony "Vic".[16] Additionally, he has also have children from his previous partners, including Ricardo Jr "Ricky",[14][15] from his previous wife Beatriz Sison.[17] Silverio died on December 11, 2016, at the age 87,[2] due to cardiac arrest.[7] References
|