Who is new House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro?

House Majority Leader Fredenil (Press & Public Affairs Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Just like President Rodrigo Duterte, newly-elected House Majority Leader, Capiz 2nd Dist. Rep. Fredenil Castro, is a lawyer who graduated from the San Beda College of Law.

According to a profile provided to the media, Castro was also a law professor in the same university. He was nominated as new Majority Leader and House rules committee chair by Camarines Sur 1st Dist. Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. during Monday’s plenary session.

READ: Capiz Rep. Fred Castro is new majority leader

Castro, an outgoing deputy speaker, is the president of the National Unity Party, one of the political parties in the House with around 48 members as of last year, according to him.

He was also interim majority leader after Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ended Davao del Norte 1st Dist. Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s two-year grip on the Speakership post last July 2018. But he “gave way” to Andaya whom he regards as a “close friend.”

READ: Castro ready to give way to Andaya in House majority leadership post

As a lawmaker, the Capiz congressman was awarded “Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman” from 2001 to 2004 as he was likewise a recipient of “Congressional Hall of Fame” award in 2005 and 2006. He is also acknowledged as an extemporaneous speaker.

In the 17th Congress, he principally authored House Bill No. 1, seeking to restore death penalty in the country, House Bill No. 2, which aims to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to nine years old.

READ: House panel swiftly okays lower age of criminal liability

He finished his first three terms and returned as representative of Capiz’s 2nd District in the 16th Congress, wherein he served as chair of the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms. /kga