Belmonte designates caretaker for Escudero's Sorsogon district

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has named Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos Jr. as caretaker of the first congressional district of the province that became vacant with the death of Rep. Salvador Escudero.

Belmonte made the designation of Ramos as legislative liaison officer of the first district of Sorsogon “effective immediately” in a special order dated Sept. 3.

Escudero passed away last Aug. 13 after battling cancer for a little over two years.

“It (order) is akin to the assignment of special duties to the member. Among the duties is the continuation of the programs following the death of a member,” said Annalou Nachura, executive director of the House of Representatives’ legal affairs department.

Ramos, a first-term lawmaker, represents one of the two districts in Sorsogon. The second district consists of Gubat, Barcelona, Bulan, Bulusan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog, Juban and Prieto Diaz towns.

He previously served as mayor of Gubat, a second-class municipality in Sorsogon, for six three-year terms.

Ramos currently serves as vice chairman of the House committee on natural resources, committee on rural development, and committee on Bicol recovery and economic development.