Marcelino Libanan Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honorable
Marcelino Libanan
Office:House Minority Leader
Term Start:July 25, 2022
Predecessor:Joseph Stephen Paduano
Office1:Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 4Ps Party-list
Term Start1:June 30, 2022
Alongside1:Jonathan Clement Abalos II
Predecessor1:Constituency established
Office2:Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Eastern Samar's at-large congressional district
Term Start2:June 30, 1998
Term End2:April 18, 2007
Predecessor2:Jose Tan Ramirez
Successor2:Teodulo M. Coquilla
Office3:Vice Governor of Eastern Samar
Term Start3:June 30, 1992
Term End3:June 30, 1995
Birth Date:20 September 1963
Birth Place:Taft, Eastern Samar, Philippines
Profession:Politician
Party:4PS (2022-present)
Otherparty:LAMMP (1998-2001)
NPC (2001-2004)
Lakas-CMD (2004-2007)

Marcelino Libanan (born September 20, 1963), known as Nonoy, is a Filipino politician who is currently the House Minority Leader of the Philippines. He is formerly the Vice Governor of Eastern Samar and the Congressman for Eastern Samar, being awarded a standing ovation from the Public Attorney's Office of the Philippines, he went on to be a party-list representative for the 4Ps Party-list in 2022, later being elected as the House Minority Leader of the Philippines.

Background

Marcelino 'Nonoy' Libanan was born on September 20, 1963, in Taft, Eastern Samar, he was born to Atty. Camilo C. Libanan and Pacita C. Libanan, he went to Taft Elementary School for elementary, Seminario de Hesus Nazareno for high school, and Divine Word University for College.

Libanan confirmed his relationship with Katipunero Valentín Díaz, stating that his great-grandmother, Basilia Diaz, was the daughter of Valentin Diaz, after an announcement by Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.[1]

Political career

Marcelino Libanan was elected as the Vice Governor of Eastern Samar from 1992 to 1995.

In 1998, he was the Congressman for Eastern Samar's at-large congressional district for three terms, varying with the parties Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP), Lakas-CMD,[2] and Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). During his tenure as Congressman, he was awarded a standing ovation from the Public Attorney's Office of the Philippines after signing a law giving special allowance to PAO officials.[3] He resigned early to be the Bureau of Immigration Commissioner on April 18, 2007.[4]

In 2022, he became the House Minority Leader of the Philippines with the political party 4Ps.[5] [6]

Political positions

Marcelino Libanan has various political positions, including:

Tensions between the Philippines and China

Libanan urged Filipinos' to "have unity", and to "rally behind President Bongbong Marcos" during tensions between the Philippines and China. He also supported closing all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in the Philippines.[7]

Agriculture

Libanan supported appointing a chief for the Department of Agriculture during the 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Bongbong Marcos. He also criticized Marcos being the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.[8]

Education

Libanan filed a bill considering the act of expanding the Department of Education to integrate more languages, expanding the reach of Overseas Filipino Workers. [9]

Tourism

Libanan plans to quadruple the budget of the Department of Tourism, stating that the expanding of the budget will "economically expand the country."[10]

MSU Bombing

See also: Mindanao State University bombing. Libanan condemns the Mindanao State University bombing, stating that the individuals who did the bombing "must pay".[11]

Balangiga bells

See also: Balangiga bells. In 1998, when he was still the representative of Eastern Samar, Libanan signed a bill for the return of the Balangiga bells from the US Government.[12] [13] The bells eventually returned in 2018.[14]

Controversies

In July 2017, Marcelino Libanan and former Eastern Samar Governor Clotilde Salazar was accused by The Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman for graft by using fertilizer funds. But the indicators found no graft offense.[15] [16]

In July 2022, Representative Edcel Lagman criticized the practices of Libanan and criticized the process of selecting the House Minority Leader.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: House Minority Leader Libanan is a Katipunero's great, great grandson, Teodoro says in budget hearing . 2024-06-28 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  2. Book: White, Lynn T. . Political Booms: Local Money and Power in Taiwan, East China, Thailand, and the Philippines . 2009 . World Scientific . 978-981-283-681-6 . en.
  3. Web site: What 15-year-old law did Libanan get feted for? . 2024-06-27 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  4. Web site: Returning lawmaker Libanan named House Minority Leader .
  5. Web site: 4Ps Lawmaker is now House Minority Leader .
  6. Web site: 4Ps lawmaker Libanan is new House Minority Leader .
  7. Web site: Gabieta . Joey . 2024-06-25 . Libanan urges Filipinos to unite amid escalating PH-China tension . 2024-06-27 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  8. Web site: Leon . Dwight de . 2023-07-26 . Counter-SONA: House minority urges Marcos to leave DA . 2024-06-27 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  9. Web site: Libanan wants Pinoy students to be like Rizal, speak more foreign languages . 2024-06-28 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  10. Web site: INQUIRER.net . 2022-09-01 . House members willing to quadruple tourism budget . 2024-06-28 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  11. Web site: MSU bombing culprits must pay, says Libanan . 2024-06-28 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  12. Book: Delmendo, Sharon . The Star-entangled Banner: One Hundred Years of America in the Philippines . 2005 . UP Press . 978-971-542-484-4 . en.
  13. Book: Congress, United States . Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress . 1998 . U.S. Government Printing Office . en.
  14. News: 2018-12-15 . US returns looted Balangiga church bells to Philippines . 2024-07-06 . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Former Eastern Samar solon faces Graft Raps .
  16. Web site: Sandigan affirms ruling vs 2 former Eastern Samar officials .
  17. Web site: 'Co-opted?': Lagman blasts Libanan-led House minority . 2024-06-28 . Manila Bulletin . en.