Mikey, Pacquiao among lawmakers with most absences

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao were among the congressmen who registered the most number of absences during the first regular session of the 15th Congress, data from the House secretary general showed. Laguna Rep. Maria Evita Arago topped the list of frequent absentees, attending 30 out of the 73 days during the first regular session. She said it was because of her “very difficult pregnancy." “I had a very difficult pregnancy with threatened my baby’s welfare, so I followed my doctor’s orders to refrain from physical activity and was ordered to take a leave of absence," she told GMA News Online in a text message. She even sent a medical certificate from her gynecologist, showing that she was diagnosed with “threatened abortion." Arago added that she is “determined" to attend sessions more often now that she has already given birth. Arroyo, meanwhile, came second to Arago in terms of the number of session days he was absent. The eldest son of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only attended 38 out of the 70 sessions since he was sworn into office last year. Attendance records from the House secretary-general likewise showed that Arroyo had 32 absences without notice—the highest among all House members. In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Arroyo said he could not understand how the House secretary general came out with the attendance figures. “I will refute that I have more absences than other congressmen. All my absences were documented and I was on official business when I was abroad… I do my job properly," he said. He added that as a party-list congressman, his “constituency is not only nationwide but also abroad." He said this is the reason for some of his foreign trips. Arroyo likewise said that he has documents to explain his absences, and that he informed House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on instances when he could not attend sessions. Under Section 70 of the current House rules, a congressman who did not respond to the roll call but was in an official meeting or business inside or outside the country is considered present. Section 7, meanwhile, states that one of the duties of a lawmaker is to “attend plenary sessions and meetings of committees of which they are members or where their proposed legislative measures are under consideration." Pacquiao, Jules also top absentees Abra Rep. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos, meanwhile, came in third among the congressmen with the least number of sessions attended—appearing only in 44 of the possible 73. Rep. Mikey Arroyo’s uncle, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy" Arroyo Jr. was also among the top absentees, attending 46 of the 73 session days. Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV—who attended only three of the 50 required session days last year—recorded the same number of absences as Rep. Iggy Arroyo. World boxing champ Rep. Pacquiao, meanwhile, attended only 47 of the 73 session days. Pacquiao had two boxing matches—one against Mexican-American Antonio Margarito and American Shane Mosley—during his term as Sarangani representative. GMA News Online was still trying to reach these lawmakers for explanations as of posting time. Gloria Arroyo has perfect attendance A total of 150 out of the 285 congressmen, meanwhile, posted perfect attendance records, among them Mrs. Arroyo. Mrs. Arroyo attended 70 session days from July 2010 to June this year. She was on official businesses abroad twice during this period, based on House records. The former president’s other son and the fourth Arroyo in the House of Representatives, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, also attended all 73 of the required session days. House Speaker Belmonte also posted a perfect attendance record. During its first regular session, the chamber was able to pass four of President Benigno Aquino III’s 23 priority bills. Aside from their legislative duties, the 285 House members also managed to vote on the impeachment of now resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez during this period. Regular sessions in the House resume on July 25, when President Aquino will deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). — KBK, GMA News