Del Mar posts 100% attendance

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel Marguerite "Cutie" Del Mar is one of the 21 lawmakers who have 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 168 session days of the Congress from July 26, 2010 to June 6, 2013.

Out of the 21, there are only eight lawmakers who were "actually present" in all the 168 session days.

Del Mar is among the eight along with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City. Completing the list are representatives Dato Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Leopoldo Bataoil (Pangasinan), Edcel Lagman (Albay), Salvio Fortuno (Camarines Sur), Roilo Golez (Parañaque) and David Kho (Masbate).

Her father, congressman-elect Raul Del Mar, said he was proud of what his daughter has achieved.

"I'm happy that she was able a perfect attendance of all plenary session during the three years of her term," he said.

Cutie filed and principally authored a total of 29 bills and one resolution. She was also the vice chairwoman of the committee on public information as well as the committee on inter-parliamentary relations and diplomacy.

She is also member of the committee on appropriations, tourism, legislative franchises and the committee on games and amusement.

The remaining 13 lawmakers were deemed present in accordance with the House rules. They were 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 Pacquiao tied with Negros Occidental Representative Jules Ledesma IV as the top absentees in the lower chamber after attending only 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. According to the attendance report, Ledesma also had 45 absences without notice.

The two Arroyos were also among the top absentees in the Lower House. The former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo attended 111 session days while her son, Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo attended 112 session days.

Since October 2012, the former president has been under hospital arrest for plunder 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, those who were suspended, those who were dropped from the rolls, as well as those who have taken their oath late. - with Philippine Star News/BRP