Neophyte lawmakers close ranks vs junkets, absenteeism

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya ,Philippines  – Neophyte solons in the House of Representatives started a campaign for clean and honest government by closing ranks against absenteeism, unnecessary travel and transparency in pork barrel allotments.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said the move came amid negative public impressions on the House due to perceptions of frequent junkets, absenteeism and lack of transparency in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allotments.

“These are the least we can do, by setting ourselves as models to our constituents. As neophyte lawmakers, we all still have the idealism for transparency and clean and honest government. Besides, this is only right in order to maintain the highest image of the House,” he said.

Baguilat said the group Neophyte Solons for Reforms, composed of at least 40 “virgin” or first-term solons with no previous experience in Congress, believes that personal example is paramount over party concerns.

He said there are more than 100 first-term representatives in the present 15th Congress, most of whom have expressed interest in joining the group regardless of party affiliations.

“Because of absenteeism and unnecessary travels, the passage of important bills has been delayed. We consider these very important problems since they deal with matters of quorum,” Baguilat said.

He said there have been instances in the past where the passage of several important bills were derailed simply because of lack of quorum due to absences of his colleagues who were out on trips.

“We believe that if we all personally vow to cut down on absences and unnecessary travels, we would able to push through with the passage of bills at a faster rate,” Baguilat said.

He said the members of the group vowed to be transparent with their PDAF allotments so that no suspicions would arise on how they were disbursed.

“We know that this is the most difficult matter for some of our fellow solons to do, especially some of our elder colleagues. But since many of us in this present Congress are first-termers, and still idealistic, we believe we have nothing to hide,” Baguilat said, adding that there is a possibility that more of his colleagues would join their group and have an influence on House deliberations.

He added that they have the full backing of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

Asked if he considers former President Arroyo, now a congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district, as one of them being a first termer in Congress, Baguilat said he believes not and so with first-term congressman Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa, who served as senator for at least nine years.

Aside from Baguilat, among the neophyte congressmen are Reps. Manny Pacquiao of Saranggani, Dakila Cua of Quirino, Lani Mercado-Revilla of Cavite, Lucy Torres-Gomez of Leyte, Randolph Ting of Cagayan, Aliyah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Napoleon Dy and Anna Go of Isabela and Erico Aumentado of Bohol.