By Ellson Quismorio
Marino Party-list Rep. Sandro Gonzalez announced Sunday afternoon that Macnell Lusotan shall assume his post as the second winning nominee of the party-list and will be officially sworn in by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on November 4, or when the House resumes its sessions.
Marino party-list Rep. Carlo “Sandro” Gonzalez (Photo from Carlo "Sandro" Gonzales Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
Marino won two seats in the 2019 midterm elections, but its other representative, Antonio Lopez, resigned due to personal reasons.
"We welcome the Comelec (Commission on Elections) decision which paves the way for Congressman Lusotan to assume the second seat that the people have given our party-list," Gonzales said in a statement.
"In behalf of all the members of the Marino Party-list, I thank the COMELEC for recognizing the will of the people while at the same time upholding the rule of law in effecting this substitution," he added.
The assumption of Lusotan was cited by Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon in a Senate hearing as an example of a substitution that is compliant with Comelec rules and regulations.
Lusotan expressed his willingness and readiness to take on his duties in the 300-member House of Representatives.
“I am humbled by the trust and confidence given to me by the Marino Party-list. I assure all stakeholders in the maritime industry that with my assumption, the party-list will be twice as effective in the performance of its duties,” said Lusotan.
Marino Party-list, through its Rep. Gonzalez, has already filed three major measures to address the plight of seafarers, namely House Bill (HB) 2317, or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act; HB 2318, or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers; and House Resolution (HR) 71, which calls on the Inter-Agency Council on The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme to provide regular reports to Congress.