Paduano denies absenteeism report

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Dec 27): Paduano denies absenteeism report

ABANG Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano denied reports that came out in national media that he is included in the list of congressman with the most number of absences.

“I have not seen the report but one of my staff reported it to me,” Paduano said.

A national TV report stated that Paduano is on the list of congressmen with the most number of absences.

The list is led by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who has no attendance at all.

Paduano is listed as present in only five sessions, followed by another Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV of the First District, with only 32 sessions present.

“To set the record straight, since I was proclaimed I have never been absent from Congress," he said. “I have never been absent from my committees’ hearings, much more from the plenary."

“I plan to send a statement to the national media to clarify the report." Paduano said.
He added that every week he goes to Manila for three to four days to attend the sessions and return home to Bacolod during Fridays and weekends.

"Maybe it was a one year report of the House, because from May 28, 2014 downward or a total of about 10 months, I was not present as I was not yet proclaimed," Paduano said.

Paduano, also known as Carapali Luahalti when he was still national commander of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, was proclaimed only in May this year.

In the May 2013 elections, Abang Lingkod was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after it was found not representing any marginalized sector.

The Supreme Court later ordered the Comelec to proclaim previously disqualified Abang Lingkod as one of the winning groups in the May 2013 party-list elections.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2014/12/27/paduano-denies-absenteeism-report-383891