Former President Arroyo, Pacquiao among House absentees

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and boxing champion, now Saranggani congressman Manny Pacquiao, are among the representatives with the most absences at the House of Representatives, a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report said Thursday.

The report said that records from the House Secretary General showed there were 59 session days from January 17 to December 14 of the past year.

The top absentee was Dinagat Island representative Ruben Ecleo, who attended House sessions only eight times. Ecleo was issued a warrant of arrest by the Sandiganbayan for graft, the report said.

Following Ecleo was Davao del Norte representative Anthony Del Rosario who was present 25 times.

Negros Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo attended House sessions 26 times while Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao attended 27 times, the report said.

Pacquiao had two boxing fights in the past year, on May 7 against Shane Mosley and November 12 against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Negros Occidental Representative Jules Ladesma, Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile, and Agusan del Sur Representative Valentina Plaza, were all present in 30 sessions, the report said.

“Ang Galing Pinoy” partylist Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his mother, former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, both attended 33 and 35 sessions respectively.

Gloria Arroyo is currently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center after the Pasay Regional Trial court issued a warrant for her arrest on November 18.

Meanwhile, among the congressmen who had perfect attendance were Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, and House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, the report said.