‘Graduating’ congressmen bid goodbye

Batasang Pambansa. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The House of Representatives on Wednesday feted a total of 38 congressmen who had completed their third and final terms.

Among them were three senior House members who suffered different fates in the May 13 senatorial elections. While Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara won under the administration banner, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño did not make it.

Another big winner was San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who was still eligible for another three-year term.

The mood was festive at the plenary hall where the “graduation” ceremonies took place. A total of 181 representatives responded to the roll call, indicating the presence of a quorum.

Many of them spent much of the afternoon going around the hall, exchanging pleasantries and recalling experiences in the recent midterm elections.

Angara was all smiles when he approached the media section, telling reporters, “I missed you guys.” He is set to replace his father, Sen. Edgardo Angara, who opted not to run for another elective post last month.

Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, who represented a party-list group supposedly representing security guards, also completed his third and final term.

His departure would reduce to two the number of Arroyo family members in the Lower House. They are former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who won a second term as Pampanga representative, and her son Dato, who will also have another three years as Camarines Sur representative.

A fourth member of the Arroyo clan, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, has died. He was the brother-in-law of the former President.

Also included on the list of graduating congressmen was Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who lost to his grandson in the province’s gubernatorial race.—Christian V. Esguerra