Filipino boxing great and Senator Manny Pacquiao. AP FILE PHOTO
Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao attended only one session at the House of Representatives as representative of Sarangani with a total of 22 absences during the third and final regular session of the 16th Congress, records of the chamber showed.
Attendance record posted on the official website of the House showed that Pacquiao had a total of 22 absences—16 session days without notice and another six session days with notice of absence.
There was a total of 52 session days in the last regular session of Congress from July 27, 2015 to June 06, 2016 but there were 29 session days when roll call was dispensed with.
Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has been under hospital arrest since the start of the first regular session of the 16th Congress, had notified the chamber that she would be absent during the 23 session days when the roll was called.
The following House members were also among those who recorded the most number of absences during the said period:
Davao Del Sur Representative Franklin Bautista—20 absences without notice
Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV—A total of 20 absences ( 9 without notice, 11 with notice)
Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos—19 absences without notice
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman—19 absences without notice
Iloilo Rep. Hernan Biron Jr.—A total of 19 absences (13 without notice, 6 with notice)
Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan—18 absences without notice
Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco—18 absences without notice
Cavite Rep. Luis “Jon-Jon” Ferrer—A total of 17 absences ( 6 without notice, 11 with notice )
Kalinga Partylist Rep. Abigail Faye Ferriol—A total of 17 absences (8 without notice, 9 with notice)
Ilocos Sur Ronald Singson—A total of 17 absences (14 without notice, 3 with notice)
Surigao Del Norte Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr.—16 absences without notice
Iligan City Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr.—A total of 16 absences (3 without notice, 13 with notice)
Quezon City Rep. Francisco Calalay Jr.—15 absences without notice
Cebu Rep. Joseph Durano—15 absences without notice
Palawan Rep. Douglas Hagedorn—15 absences without notice
Southern Leyte Rep. Damian Mercado—15 absences without notice
Rizal Rep. Joel Roy Duavit—14 absences without notice
Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr.—14 absences without notice
LPGMA Partylist Rep. Arnel Ty—14 absences without notice
Davao Oriental Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang—A total of 14 ( 3 without notice, 11 with notice)
AGBIAG Partylist Rep. Patricio Antonio—13 absences without notice
Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos—12 absences without notice
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez—12 absences without notice
Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla—A total of 12 absences (4 without notice, 8 with notice)
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was among those who had no record of absences during the third regular session of the last Congress.
The 17th Congress with the new set of members will formally open on Monday, July 25. RAM/rga
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