Congressmen from Negros, Iloilo are top absentee lawmakers for 2012

Lawmakers from Iloilo and Negros Occidental are among with the poorest attendance records in the 15th Congress of the Philippines based on an online report.

Already known for his poor attendance during the 14th Congress, Negros Occidental First District Rep. Julio Ledesma IV was again named with the least number of sessions attended based on a report by rollcall.ph as of November 18.

Ledesma, also known as one of the richest congressman in the country, has attended only 13 out of 125 session days.

His latest attendance record was recorded on Dec 12, 2011.

Ledesma, who is seeking reelection for his third and final term, dismissed reports on his absences when he filed his certificate of candidacy last October 5 before the Commission on Elections Negros Occidental Provincial Office in Bacolod City.

The Negrense lawmaker, who is married to actress Assunta de Rossi, said said he has accomplished his mission in the House of Representatives and he has acted on all the matters docketed with the committee on science and technology that he chairs.

He has done everything he was set out to do, Ledesma added.

Following Ledesma is Iloilo Second District representative Augusto Boboy Syjuco who attended only 31 sessions with last attendance on July 12 this year.

Also from Neg. Occidental is Fourth District representative Jeffrey Ferrer, who attended only 34 sessions.

Fourth District representative Ferjenel Biron only attended 43 sessions with last recorded attendance on Oct 9 this year.

Meanwhile, House Speaker and Quezon City Fourth District Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Weslie Gatchalian of Alay-Buhay Partylist were the only two with perfect attendance.

Iloilo City Lone District representative Jerry Treñas attended 102 sessions.

Meanwhile other Iloilo representatives including Arthur Defensor Jr. were among with the highest records of attendance. Defensor attended 109 sessions while First District Rep. Janet Garin attended 102 sessions and Fifth District Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. attended 97 sessions.

Second District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III meanwhile attended 70 sessions and Rep. Alfredo Benitez of Third District attended 80 sessions.

Among the congressman with the most absences also were former presidential son Juan Miguel Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga, First District) attending only 36 sessions and boxing champion also Sarangani Lone District Manny Pacquiao with 47 session days attended.

There are only three session days a week – from Monday through Wednesday, with Thursdays and Fridays being allotted for the congressmen’s constituents in their respective districts.*