Lawmaker only attends three out of over 50 sessions

Negros Occidental Rep. Julio “Jules" Ledesma was only present at three out of over 50 sessions that congressmen were required to attend last year, a review of congressional records undertaken by GMA News and GMANews.TV indicated. Ledesma, husband of actress Assunta de Rossi, was also absent during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year. While he was present at her 2007 and 2008 SONAs, journal records show he appeared after the roll call, indicating that he may have arrived late, GMA News’ Ivan Mayrina said in a report aired over the "24 Oras" news program.
The four-term lawmaker was present only thrice at all sessions last year: on April 21, when the chamber discussed House Resolution 737 which proposes amendments to the 1987 Constitution's economic provisions, once in October and another in November, a review of the House of Representatives’ session journals for 2009 also showed. In the meantime, Ledesma has principally authored three measures, all of them local bills, according to a Congress website search of measures he filed. He co-authored at least 20 other measures. The House of Representatives holds plenary sessions from Mondays to Wednesdays. In 2009, sessions were held from January 19 to March 6, April 13 to June 5, July 27 to October 16, November 9 to November 20, and December 1 to December 18. Despite his frequent absences, Ledesma gets his full salary of P35,000 monthly. "We're not in charge sa kanilang attendance kaya di namin nakikita yun [We’re not in charge of congressmen’s attendance so we’re unable to monitor that]," said House deputy secretary general for finance Elisa Navalta. "Yung sweldo nila, nirerelease namin yun [Their salaries are released by us]." Absentee members of the Lower House face no sanctions, House Speaker Prospero Nograles said. "We do not have rules that sanction people who are not present," he told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday. Various proposals have been offered to penalize absentee lawmakers including publishing their names, physically compelling them to attend sessions, and closing the plenary hall doors so no congressman can leave once session begins, Nograles said. But not one of the proposals flourished because of "the social contract" between the congressman and his constituents, the House leader said. The chamber has to respect the decision of the public who trusted the legislator enough to vote the person into public office. When asked whether he himself has spoken to Ledesma, Nograles said, "I cannot talk to somebody I do not see." GMA News and GMANews.TV went to Ledesma's office inside the Batasan Pambansa on Tuesday to get his side, but no one was present. Phone calls to his office made later during the day went unanswered. But GMA News’ 24 Oras was able to get his side of the story. “Being a representative, we are bound by the rules and traditions of the House," Ledesma said. “Now, gaya sa Manila, hindi ako nakikita, hindi ibig sabihin dahil dun wala na akong ginagawa. [But it doesn’t mean that because I’m not in Manila, I’m not doing anything.] In fact, ang laking responsibilidad ang ginagawa ko kasi [my responsibilities are big because] the communities I'm talking about encompass a lot of people." Ledesma, a businessman, is listed as the third richest lawmaker in the House as of May 2009, with assets worth P447.529 million. - Johanna Camille L. Sisante, with reports from Ivan Mayrina, RJAB Jr./GMANews.TV