House condoles with late Lagman's family, adopts resolution
At A Glance
- The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution expressing its “profound condolences” to the family of their beloved late colleague, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.
- Lagman died last Jan. 30 after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 82.
- Lagman was the president of the Liberal Party (LP).
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman (Facebook)
The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution expressing its “profound condolences” to the family of their beloved late colleague, Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman.
Adopted and turned into the sense of the 300-plus strong chamber was House Resolution (HR) No. 2214 principally authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The measure--adopted in consolidation with HR Nos. 2211 amd 2212--described Lagman as “a longtime advocate for human rights, champion of reproductive health, labor rights, agrarian reform, the urban poor, and a strong defender of the rule of law".
In his own message of condolences over the weekend, Speaker Romualdez praised the late Albay lawmaker for his “sharp intellect, unwavering principles, and deep commitment to the causes he believed in".
Romualdez said that whether one agreed with Lagman or not, “No one could deny his dedication to his work and his tireless advocacy for human rights, good governance, and social justice.”
At the time of his death, Lagman was president of the Liberal Party (LP), chairman emeritus of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, and a newspaper columnist.
In its resolution, the House said Lagman “will be remembered and honored by his family, friends, and colleagues as a passionate and fearless legislator; a remarkable and generous father; a warm, thoughtful, and loving brother, uncle, and lolo; a true and loyal friend; and an upright, principled, and unwavering advocate of human rights and the rule of law".
It said the late independent minority solon was one of its longest-serving members as representative of Albay’s first district from 1987 to 1988, from 2004 to 2013, and from 2016 until his death last Thursday, Jan. 30 due to cardiac arrest. He was 82.
The human rights lawyer was a member of the 8th, 9th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Congresses.
He served as minority leader, deputy majority leader, senior deputy minority leader, and chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, Committee on Justice, and Committee on Agrarian Reform during his lengthy tenure in the legislature.
“Honorable Lagman had a perfect attendance in the House of Representatives and his excellent work ethic, superior legal mind, and passion for his job earned him the distinction of being cited as ‘Outstanding Congressman’ annually from 1987 to 2012,” read the HR No.2214.
Lagman “led the credible, constructive and vigilant opposition in the House; had been a constant voice of reason; and an ardent advocate of the rule of law", it further stated.
The House cited the following law that were principally authored by the Bicolano: Republic Act (RA) No. 6657, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988; RA No.9346, titled, “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines”; RA No.9502, or Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008; RA No.9745, or Anti-Torture Act of 2009; RA No.10931, or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act; RA No.10354, or The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012; RA No.10353, or Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012; and RA No.10368, or Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013.
Lagman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from the University of the Philippines (UP), cum laude, and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree also from UP, where he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather Law Honor Society.
He was editor of the UP Law Register, managing editor of The Philippine Collegian and a lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu international honor societies.
Married to the late Ma. Cielo Burce, Lagman is survived by their seven children, namely: Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro, Larah Kristin Ramirez, Edcel Greco Lagman, Nikos Mahar Lagman, Karina Farah Lagman-Dela Cruz, Andrei Philip Lagman, and Marco Stefan Lagman.
The House resolved to furnish a copy of the resolution to the Lagman family.
HR No. 2214 was also authored by Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Minority Leader 4PS Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos, Committee on Accounts Chairperson Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, and Assistant Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre.