Bongbong most traveled solon

LAOAG CITY -- He was practically traveling abroad every week for two months.

The congressman-son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos has turned out to be the most traveled among the 240 members of the House of Representatives. Records from the Plenary Affairs Bureau showed Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., incurred nine absences in legislative sessions, eight of which absences in legislative sessions, eight of which were foreign trips.

The records showed Marcos went on “official mission abroad” eight times since the 14th Congress opened on July 23 up to Oct. 1, or a little more than two months.

These records, however, did not indicate the days when there were no sessions, or from Thursday to Sundays, when lawmakers were expected to be in the respective districts to attend to their constituents’ concerns.

Sessions are held from Mondays to Wednesday only.

Fifty-four House members failed to attend the first regular session of the 14th Congress because they were on “official mission abroad.”

Next to Marcos, the other jet-setting congressmen were Reps. Bienvenido Abante of Manila and Erico Basilio Fabian of Zamboanga City, who both obtained six absences because they were on official mission.

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who represents the fourth district of Pangasinan, came in third with three absences, having gone abroad three times.

Among the 240 congressmen, the lawmaker-husband of actress Assunta de Rossi topped the list of absentee legislators. More than half the house members – or 131 – have absented themselves from legislative proceedings.

Negros Occidental Rep. Julio “Jules” Ledesma obtained 20 absences out of the 28 total roll calls made the House leadership, from the opening of Congress on July 23 until Oct. 1.

During the House’s first 10 session days, Ledesma recorded the seven absences.

Neophyte Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, a former actor, presidential son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Ladameo had perfect attendance.

Reps. Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte and Victor Dominguez of Mountain Province, meanwhile, had 13 absences each, reps. Salvacion Pnce-Enrile of Cagayan and Judy Syjuco of Iloilo both had 12 while Rizal Rep. Michael John “Jack” Duavit had 11 absences.