Lawmakers pay their last respects to the late Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado during the necrological services on Thursday at the House of Representatives.
MANILA, Philippines — Even while he was undergoing treatment for pneumonia, the late Bohol Representative Erico Aumentado had been a dedicated public servant and requested that he be allowed to attend session at the height of the discussions on the Reproductive Health Bill.
The late legislator’s granddaughter Jiselle Rae Villamor told reporters at the House of Representatives that their “lolo Rico” would dictate to her amendments to the RH Bill and constantly requested that he be allowed to attend session while confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City. She recalled several times when Aumentado woke up and asked “pwedeng (pumunta sa) session? (can I attend the session?)”
Aumentado was against the RH Bill and even worked on several insertions and amendments he wanted to propose but Villamor said that her grandfather was not allowed to leave hospital.
Aumentado died of pneumonia at 8:37 p.m. on Christmas night at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Global City. He was 72.
Aumentado was described as an achiever not only in public service but in life in general by his family, friends and colleagues during the necrological services hosted by the House of Representatives on Thursday.
“He made politics an honorable profession,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr who said that he chose Aumentado to head the ethics and privileges committee despite being a member of the minority bloc.
“He knew chairmanships were reserved for the majority but I said he is the proper man for the position and he served with great distinction, truly a gentleman,” he said.
Aumentado, a member of the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats party, was part of the 9th, 10th, 11th and the present 15th Congress representing the second district of Bohol. He also served as board member and governor of Bohol.
His lawyer Milet Adame said that the late congressman’s remains will be brought back to the La Funeraria Paz within the day where it will lie in state until Saturday.
She said Aumentado’s remains will be flown to his hometown Bohol by Saturday morning. Interment is scheduled on January 5 in Tagbilaran City.
He is survived by his wife Peregrina Adlaon Cabagnot-Aumentado, three sons, five daughters, 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.