Bohol congressman dies of pneumonia

MANILA, Philippines - Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado, one of the senior opposition leaders in the House of Representatives, died of pneumonia on Tuesday night at a hospital in Taguig City. He was 72.

Aumentado, who also served for three consecutive terms as governor of Bohol, was working on improving transparency among lawmakers in filing their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth as chairman of the House ethics committee at the time of his death.

The lawmaker died at 8:37 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, according to his son and chief of staff, Erico Aristotle Aumentado.

“The country lost one of the most exemplary public servants with the passing of Congressman Erico Aumentado,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a statement. “He was a very dear friend for whom I had the highest respect both as a colleague in Congress and in the writing profession.”

He said Aumentado deserves full credit for transforming Bohol into one of the most progressive, peaceful and richest provinces today.

“He was truly an outstanding (lawmaker) – learned, dedicated, and principled. A gifted writer and newspaperman, Eric pursued his crusading spirit in politics, faithful to his oath and to the highest standards of public service,” Belmonte said.

Throughout all of Aumentado’s four terms as congressman, three terms as governor as well as his earlier stints as vice governor and member of the provincial board, his “integrity and honor have never been in doubt,” he said.

“He died a poor man because he never made politics the source of his livelihood,” Belmonte said.

House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez described Aumentado, a lawyer and journalist, as “a classic example of a dedicated public servant.”

“As our colleague in the minority bloc, he was very efficient, hard-working and cooperative,” he said, adding Aumentado remained true to his beliefs and principles despite pressures and threats coming from the Aquino administration.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Aumentado was not only a loss to his province but to the entire country as well.

Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay described Aumentado as “one of our great leaders, ally and friend in Bohol.”

“Being a former journalist, Rep. Aumentado’s outrage against poverty, injustice and corruption as well as his desire for transparency served him well as a public servant,” Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said.

House secretary-general Marilyn Barua-Yap said necrological services will be held at the House plenary hall at 10 a.m. today.