MANILA – House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez honored the late Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Wednesday (05 Feb 2025) during a necrological service at the House of Representatives Plenary Hall, calling him “a true statesman” committed to democracy, human rights, and progressive legislation.
In his eulogy, Romualdez described Lagman as a man of conviction, steadfast in his principles and unafraid to stand alone in the pursuit of justice and governance for the marginalized.
“To speak of Edcel Lagman is to speak of a statesman in the truest sense,” Romualdez said, emphasizing Lagman’s legacy of advocacy for human rights, reproductive health, and good governance.
Romualdez highlighted Lagman’s pivotal contributions to landmark laws, including the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, the abolition of the death penalty, and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. Despite the challenges these reforms faced, Lagman’s dedication to uplifting the forgotten was unwavering.
“Edcel was more than his legislative achievements,” Romualdez remarked. “He was a mentor, a fierce yet respectful adversary, and a defender of democracy through dialogue and dissent.”
Romualdez further reflected on the values that Lagman embodied: debating fiercely but fairly, disagreeing without dehumanizing, and holding true to principles in the face of power. He urged fellow lawmakers to emulate Lagman’s example of integrity and public service.
Concluding his tribute, Romualdez assured Lagman’s family that his impact would persist through the laws he championed and the principles he upheld. “Edcel Lagman does not belong to the past. His work, his words, and his wisdom belong to the future,” he said.
ia/mnm
MANILA — Lawmakers across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, who passed away at 82 on Thursday due to cardiac arrest.
His death marks the loss of a respected figure in Philippine politics, known for his unwavering commitment to human rights, social justice, and good governance.
Speaker Martin Romualdez described Lagman as a “passionate and fearless legislator,” whose sharp intellect and dedication earned him respect in the House of Representatives.
He lauded Lagman’s tireless advocacy, noting that while not everyone agreed with his views, his integrity and legal expertise were undeniable.
House blue ribbon committee chairman Joel Chua praised Lagman’s mastery of law and parliamentary procedure, while Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores recalled the congressman’s sharp wit and resilience, even in the face of legal setbacks.
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera highlighted Lagman’s devotion to the underprivileged and his work as past president of the Rotary Club of South Triangle.
The Makabayan bloc and various party-lists, including Gabriela, Kabataan, and Akbayan, also expressed their sorrow, calling Lagman a “true statesman” and a “mentor” to many progressive legislators.
OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa del Mar-Magsino remembered him as a venerable lawmaker dedicated to human rights and social justice.
Liberal Party members, including former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, mourned the loss of their president, reflecting on Lagman’s principled leadership and personal sacrifices. Former Vice President Leni Robredo, who sought his counsel during her term, also paid tribute to his wisdom and public service.
Lagman’s legacy will continue through the causes he championed, including landmark laws on reproductive health and human rights. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) honored him for his work in promoting historical authenticity and truth.
As the nation mourns, lawmakers are committed to continuing the fight for justice and the welfare of the Filipino people, inspired by Lagman’s example.
ia/mnm
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Despite former Senator Leila de Lima’s acquittal from charges brought by the Duterte administration, Liberal Party president and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman persists in urging the filing of charges against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Philippine courts.
Lagman asserts that this action is crucial to demonstrate the functioning of the justice system in the Philippines.
Human rights organizations claim that more than 20,000 deaths occurred since Duterte’s 2016 inauguration, linked to his “war on illegal drugs.”
“As long as former President Rodrigo Duterte, the main proponent of drug-related extrajudicial killings, remains unindicted in Philippine courts, our justice system fails to deliver justice to both perpetrators and victims,” Lagman emphasized.
Meanwhile, Arturo Lascañas, a self-proclaimed former member of the infamous Davao Death Squad (DDS), alleged Vice President Sara Duterte’s involvement in the “bloody drug war.”
According to a January 29, 2024 report by Vera Files, Lascañas stated in his affidavit submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that Vice President Sara Duterte was aware of and endorsed the killings ordered by her father during her tenure as Davao City mayor.
“I was never implicated in this issue during my tenure as Vice Mayor and Mayor of Davao City,” the Vice President rebutted in a statement on February 1.
Lagman, however, argues that De Lima’s acquittal does not signify a functioning justice system for all involved in drug-related offenses and their victims under the Duterte administration.
“The Philippines cannot invoke the complementarity principle to exempt itself from the ICC’s jurisdiction in the case of alleged crimes against humanity committed by Duterte and his top allies,” the opposition lawmaker maintained.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Albay First District Rep. Edcel Lagman announced that the House-approved divorce bill has been transmitted to the Senate.
“The absolute divorce bill under House Bill No. 9349, entitled ‘An Act Reinstituting Absolute Divorce as an Alternative Mode for the Dissolution of Marriage,’ which was approved on third and final reading on May 22, 2024, by the House of Representatives, was finally transmitted to the Senate in a letter dated June 10, 2024, from House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco to Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ G. Escudero,” said Lagman, the bill’s author.
“This means that the transmittal to the Senate will not wait for the House plenary action when sessions resume on July 22, 2024, as previously announced by Velasco,” Lagman added.
Previously, Velasco mentioned that the number of votes for the bill needed correction. He stated that the correct tally was 131-109.
The House Secretary General indicated that the corrected vote count would be announced during the plenary session.
(ia/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Claiming without presenting evidence, Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Sunday bared that a campaign for charter change (Cha-Cha) had begun with mayors supposedly asked to give P100 to every constituent who would sign a petition to change the 1987 Constitution via people’s initiative.
Lagman said mayors from his Albay province were summoned to a meeting on January 5 and were given sheets of paper that they were to have their constituents sign.
However, he stopped short of identifying who was behind the alleged campaign.
“During the meeting, they were informed that people’s initiative will be used as a mode of amending the Constitution and they were given mobilization funds and the forms to be signed by at least three percent of the registered voters of the legislative district to which their municipalities belong,” the opposition lawmaker said in a statement.
Lagman further claimed that the campaign “is nationwide as congressmen belonging to various political parties have been sent the necessary forms.”
“Voters who would sign the petition for people’s initiative will be given P100 each, 50 percent of which has already been advanced to the municipal mayors and respective coordinators,” he revealed.
The document being circulated showed that the ” people’s initiative” (PI) intends to make the Senate and the House vote jointly, instead of separately, when deciding on any amendment to or revision of the 1987 Constitution.
Political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that if the House and the Senate vote together on constitutional amendments, the 24 senators would easily be outnumbered by the congressmen.
For her part, House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro of the ACT Teachers Party-list strongly opposed Cha-Cha via PI, saying the country has to attend to more pressing issues.
“Hindi Cha-cha ang pangunahing pinoproblema ng mamamayan kundi ang taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, lalo na ng bigas,” the national democrat lawmaker said in a statement.
(el Amigo/MNM)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — With the widening rift between the camps of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, opposition Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman has expressed hope that eventually the President will allow the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the “bloody” war on drugs of the previous administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Conflicting reports said government data shows that at least 6,252 people were killed in police anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022 while human rights groups estimate to be between 27,000 and 30,000.
“Palagay ko naman ang ating Pangulo ay titignan yung sentiment ng Kongreso, ng House of Representatives at sa mundo naman wala namang na-close, pwede ma-open. Yung mga Executive agencies ay pwedeng magpalit ng isip kung talagang nakikita nila na tama talaga na mag-cooperate ang ating bansa sa imbestigasyon ng ICC,” Lagman told reporters on Wednesday, November 22.
In July 17, 2023 report of the Vera Files, aside from FPRRD, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were named in documents submitted to the ICC.
On Tuesday, November 21, the Albay solon filed the third resolution at the House of Representatives urging relevant agencies to work with the ICC Prosecutor on the probe.
Noticeably, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has softened his stance on the ICC when way back in July he said the international body “is not welcome here and has no business to be in the country.”
“[It] needs a serious study on our part, at the DOJ, considering we are no longer members,” Remulla declared.
With this development, Lagman expressed his belief that there has been a shift in the perspective of the majority bloc in the House.
“Kami naman e talagang matagal na naming hinihiling yun na mag-cooperate na. Palagay ko may mga pagpapalit sa mga pananaw ng majority na talagang kailangan na sundin natin ang rule of law at yung world order, kailangan mag-cooperate fully ang ating bansa sa imbestigasyon ng prosecutors ng ICC. Uulitin ko, we shouldn’t be a renegade in the international order,” he said.
Some political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that the entry of ICC early next year is possible with the obvious cracks in the UniTeam.
On Monday evening, November 20, VP Duterte was caught in video “snubbing” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City with the Philippine delegation of the President from the US.
(ai/mnm)
By Liezelle Soriano
THE country can live without confidential intelligence funds, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said, amid the concerns raised by the opposition and concerned citizens, but agencies that truly need intelligence gathering funds must be spared.
According to the Special Provision General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022, confidential funds are lump sum amounts for expenses related to “surveillance activities in civilian government agencies” to support their mandate or operations.
“Definitely, the country can go ahead without confidential funds. Pero itong intelligence funds, kailangan ito sa mga ahensya na engaged talaga in gathering intelligence,” the lawmaker said in a radio interview.
The legislator pointed out that the finances for confidential and intelligence operations at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Office of the Solicitor-General (OSG) were not justified.
“Kung kailangan nila (OSG) ng surveillance, bakit hindi i-avail ‘yung services ng NBI. Kapares din ng DICT. Kung kailangan nila mag-avail ng services for surveillance purposes, andiyan ang PNP, andiyan ang military, at andiyan ang NBI,” he said.
“They should avail of these services without getting ang pondo on confidential funds,” the senior lawmaker from Albay said. (ai/mnm)