Aumentado sets new Congressional record: 1st opposition House Ethics Committee chair
Email This Article
SECOND DISTRICT solon Erico B. Aumentado has established a new record in the House of Representatives when he was elected as the first opposition congressman to chair the Committee on Ethics which serves as “The Ombudsman” of the legislative body.
Aumentado’s election came after a meeting between Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Minority Leader Edcel Lagman. Later, Lagman informed the Bohol solon that his selection was a judgment call of the Speaker who thanked Aumentado for accepting the chairmanship.
In his text message to Aumentado, Belmonte said, “Everyone feels you are a fair-minded person Eric. Especially me. Thanks for accepting.”
In the over 100 years history of the House of Representatives, the chairmanship of the Committee on Ethics was always given to the majority administration congressmen because of the very sensitive position which deals on all matters related to the honor and dignity of the chamber and the members’ privileges.
It will be remembered that in 1999, the 2nd District legislator, as chairman of the Committee on Ethics stood singlehandedly to block the resolution signed by 119 congressmen urging the Supreme Court to allow then Cong. Romeo Jalosjos to attend all sessions in Congress and committee hearings which, to Aumentado’s argument against the resolution, was “a violation of the separation of powers under the Constitution between the legislative, the judiciary and the executive departments of government aside from infringing on the equal protection clause of the Constitution as well as being highly immoral.
After the marathon debate, many signatories to the resolution withdrew their signatures and the resolution was defeated on the floor.
Aumentado was also remembered by his peers both in the majority and minority in standing for almost 12 hours – the longest in the history of the House – to defend the national budget in his capacity as vice chairman of the Committee on Appropriation.
The two records of the 2nd District solon catapulted him to the position of Deputy Speaker in 2000 under the Speakership of Manuel Villar, now senator of the republic. Speaker Belmonte was the minority leader at the time, who later on became also a Speaker of the House during the closing month of the 11th Congress.
Meanwhile, the 2nd District solon has been elected as member of the powerful committees on Appropriations, Public Works and Highways, Agriculture and Food, Basic Education, Tourism, Good Government and Accountability. He is also a member of the Committee on Local Government, Transportation and Natural Resources.
He is likewise expected to be elected to the Committee on Ways and Means representing the minority and where his two bills on the sin taxes on liquor, cigar and cigarettes to raise an additional about P5.5 billion excise taxes for the PhilHealth universal coverage of indigents, barangay captains, kagawads, secretaries, treasurers, tanods, Lupong Tagapamayapa members, health and day care workers.
The sin taxes also are expected to generate more funds for the Information, Communication and Technology program of the Department of Education public elementary and high schools as well as the hiring of new teachers and the construction of new school buildings. (by June S. Blanco)
