Solon disputes House report card

Rep. Marcelino Libanan (LAMP, Eastern Samar) clarified yesterday a House secretariat report that showed that he was among the most frequent travelers among congressmen.

The first-term congressman told The STAR that he went abroad only twice during the last session, spending four days in Brazil and three days in Australia.

He said his Australian trip was sponsored by the Department of Tourism. He was with several other congressmen, he added.

"Paki-clarify para sa mga constituents kong nagbabasa ng STAR (Please clarify the report for the benefit of my constituents who read The STAR)," he asked this paper’s reporter covering the House.

He said he would also write the House secretariat to dispute the report.

The secretariat report listed Libanan as having spent 13 session days abroad, second to Rep. Carlos Cojuangco of Negros Occidental, who used up 17 days.

They are not, however, among the top absentees.

The report also listed two opposition congressmen and nine ruling party members as having chalked up perfect attendance. – Jess Diaz