Detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo topped the list of absentees in the House of Representatives last year, House attendance records showed.
Mrs. Arroyo, who represents the second district of Pampanga, managed to attend only 33 of the 61 session days from January 16 to December 19 last year, according to the records released by the House secretariat on Wednesday.
The former President was arrested in November 2011 for an electoral sabotage case in connection with the alleged irregularities in the 2007 elections. She was allowed to post bail and granted provisional liberty last July.
Mrs. Arroyo, however, went back to detention last October due to a separate plunder case for the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds during her incumbency. She is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Quezon City Rep. Anna York Bondoc and Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco posted the second highest number of absences last year, attending only 35 of the 61 session days. Bondoc gave birth last September.
Another lawmaker from Pampanga, Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, meanwhile came in third place, showing up on only 37 sessions last year.
Jules, Pacquiao
Two lawmakers showed up only 40 times during sessions lin 2012: Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron and Masbate Rep. Narciso Bravo Jr.
World boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao was also among the top absentees last year, attending only 41 of the 61 session days.
Pacquiao, who lost his two boxing matches, shared this record with four other lawmakers: Negros Occidental Rep. Julio “Jules” Ledesma IV, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., Cavite Rep. Erineo Maliksi; and TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza.
A total of 35 House members, meanwhile, posted perfect attendance records. Among them are House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez.
Section 70 of the House rules requires all members to be present ?in all sessions of the House unless prevented from doing so by sickness or other unavoidable circumstances duly reported to the House through the Secretary General.?
Senatorial candidates
None of the incumbent lawmakers aspiring for Senate seats in the 2013 polls posted perfect attendance records.
San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito posted the best attendance record among the senatorial aspirants, showing up in 57 out of the 61 session days last year.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara attended 55 session days, while Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile was present for 54 session days.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casi?o, meanwhile, showed up during 53 session days, while Zambales Rep. Milagros ?Mitos? Magsaysay attended 52 session days. ? KBK, GMA News
