BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — They were not only among the richest members of the House of Representatives but were also among the top 10 with most absences from sessions, from July 22, 2013 to June 11, this year.
Records at the House of Representatives showed that Representatives Jules Ledesma IV (1st district, Negros Occidental) and Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occ.) were in the top 10 absentees list in the 16th Congress.
According to the attendance report, Ledesma was listed in the number three spot while Benitez was in 10th place with the most number of absences.
Ledesma was present 32 times of the total 69 session days. Of his 37 total absences, 20 of which were without notice while 17 were due to constituency work.
Both Benitez and Ledesma were among the top five richest congressmen, along with Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao, who was fifth on the list of top absentees, by skipping 31 session days.
Meanwhile, former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo topped the list with 47 absences. She is however presently under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for plunder charges since October 2012.
The second in the list was Lanao del Norte Representative Abdullah Dimaporo, who is also under hospital arrest for malversation charges. He has a total of 42 absences.
Others in the list were: Representatives Rolando Andaya (Camarines Sur) with 33 absences; Eulogio Magsaysay (AVE party-list) with 30 absences; Arthur Yap (Bohol) with 27; Hernan Brion Jr. (Iloilo) with 26; Franklin Bautista (Davao del Sur) with 23; and Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal) with 21. (FREEMAN)