In the Know: Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr.

Iligan City representative Vicente Belmonte Jr. PHOTO from congress.gov.ph

Vicente Belmonte Jr. is on his third and last term as the representative of the lone district of Iligan City in Lanao del Norte province.

Belmonte is chair of the House committee on dangerous drugs and vice chair of the House committee on energy.

He is the principal author of House Bill No. 2285, which was enacted into law as Republic Act No. 10640, amending RA 9165 or the 2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, in July. RA 10640 amends the provision on the custody and disposition of illegal drugs, particularly on the conduct of inventory after an operation and the need for witnesses.

Under the amended provision, policemen can now do the inventory of seized illegal drugs and chemicals at the nearest office or police station in case of a warrantless arrest as long as the integrity and evidentiary value of the items are properly preserved. In the past, they must perform the job immediately after confiscation in the presence of the suspects and witnessed by representatives from the Department of Justice, elected public officials and media men.

Belmonte is also a member for the majority on ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law, East Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) growth area, games and amusements, Mindanao affairs, national defense and security, public order and safety, public works and highways and transportation.

Prior to his first election to Congress in 2007, Belmonte served as Iligan councilor from July 2004 to June 2007.–Inquirer Research

Source: congress.gov.ph, Inquirer Archives