70 members graduating from House
Some 70 members of the House of Representatives are “graduating” on June 30 this year, when the life of the 16th Congress expires.
Most of the lawmakers are on their third and last term, while several have opted to seek higher office.
The outgoing members are less than a fourth of the current 287 House membership.
They include four deputy Speakers – Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya, Roberto Puno of Antipolo City, Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela and Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur – and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II.
The top leader of the House – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. – is seeking a third term as representative of Quezon City’s fourth district.
The outgoing members also include those who are seeking higher office. Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur is the vice presidential running mate of Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.
Manny Pacquiao of Sarangani, Martin Romualdez of Leyte, Roman Romulo of Pasig City, Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna, Samuel Pagdilao of AntiCrime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support, Cresente Paez of Cooperatives Network Party and Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City are eyeing Senate seats.
Robredo, Gatchalian and Pagdilao are on their first term and are qualified for a second and a third term, while Pacquiao could have opted to seek a third term. If they lose, they return to the House to finish their tenure until June 30.
On the other hand, senators elected in 2013 for six years who are running for president and vice president will remain senators until 2019 even if they lose on May 9.
As for Romualdez, Romulo and Paez, they are among House members who are on their third and last term.
Another congressman who is finishing his tenure in June is Diosdado Arroyo of Camarines Sur, son of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is seeking her third and last term.
During Mrs. Arroyo’s first term, there were four Arroyos in the House.
In the case of Gina de Venecia of Pangasinan’s fourth district, who is only on her second term, she gave way to her son Christopher.
Among the outgoing members are chairmen of key committees: Isidro Ungab of Davao City, appropriations; Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon, accounts; Niel Tupas Jr. of Iloilo, justice; Mark Llandro Mendoza of Batangas, agriculture; and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, ad hoc committee on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
None of Quezon City’s six congressmen is graduating in June. In Manila, four are on their last term: Amado Bagatsing, Zenaida Angping, Benjamin Asilo and Ma. Theresa Bonoan.
Many of the outgoing House members are seeking local posts: Padilla and Mendoza are running for governor, while Bagatsing, Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite, Dan Fernandez of Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, Magtanggol Gunigundo I of Valenzuela City and Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City are aspiring for mayor.
The June graduates also include Julio Ledesma IV of Negros Occidental, who is among the top absentee congressmen.