MANILA, Philippines - Only 21 of the over 270 House representatives scored a perfect attendance in the recently concluded 15th Congress.
Based on the attendance record uploaded on the House of Representatives website, only 21 legislators attended the total 168 session days of the Congress from July 26, 2010 to June 6, 2013.
However, only eight of these 21 lawmakers were "actually present" in all the 168 session days. They were Reps. Dato Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan), Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr (Quezon City), Edcel Lagman (Albay), Cutie De Mar (Cebu City), Salvio Fortuno (Camarines Sur), Roilo Golez (Parañaque) and David Kho (Masbate).
The remaining 13 lawmakers were deemed present in accordance with the House rules. They were Reps. Giorgidi Aggabao (Isabela), Emmeline Aglipay (Diwa party list), Bolet Banal (Quezon City), Winston Castelo (Quezon City), Neptali Gonzales II (Mandaluyong City), Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon party list), Florencio-Noel (An Waray party list), Reena Concepcio-Obillo (Una Ang Pamilya party list), Angelo Palmones (AGHAM party list), Roberto Puno (Antipolo City), Miro Quimbo (Marikina City), Rene Relampagos (Bohol) and Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City).
Meanwhile, Filipino boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquaio was tied with Negros Occidental Representative Jules Ledesma IV as the top absentee in the lower chamber after attending 108 session days.
Pacquiao was only "actually present" for only 98 session days and was deemed present for 10 days, while Ledesma attended 100 session days and was deemed present for eight session days.
Ledesma also had 45 absences without notice, according to the attendance report.
Two Arroyos were also among the top absentees in the Lower House.
Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo attended 112 session days while his mother, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, attended 111 session days.
The former President has been under hospital arrest for plunder since October 2012 in connection with the alleged misuse of P366 million intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The attendance record listed a total of 290 House members and included those who passed away during their term, suspended, dropped from the rolls, as well as those who have taken their oath late.