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Edcel C. Lagman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| House Minority Leader | |
| In office July 26, 2010 – January 20, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Ronaldo Zamora |
| Succeeded by | Danilo Suarez |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives fromAlbay's1st District | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – January 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Edcel Greco Lagman |
| Succeeded by | Krisel Lagman |
| In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Krisel Lagman |
| Succeeded by | Edcel Greco Lagman |
| In office June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Amando Cope |
| Succeeded by | Krisel Lagman-Luistro |
| 17thPresident of the Liberal Party | |
| In office September 30, 2022 – January 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Pangilinan |
| Succeeded by | Erin Tañada (acting) |
| President of the Lakas–CMD | |
| In office February 25, 2011 – January 19, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo |
| Succeeded by | Bong Revilla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edcel Castelar Lagman (1942-05-01)May 1, 1942 |
| Died | January 30, 2025(2025-01-30) (aged 82) |
| Resting place | Loyola Memorial Park,Marikina |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Party | Liberal (2012–2025) |
| Other political affiliations | UNIDO (1980–1987) LnB (1987–1988) LDP (1988–2001) LAMMP (1998–2001) Lakas (2001–2012) |
| Spouse | Maria Cielo Burce (died 2017) |
| Relations | Filemon Lagman (brother) |
| Children | 7, includingEdcel Greco andKrisel |
| Residence(s) | Bacacay,Albay |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (BA,LL.B) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Official website |
Edcel Castelar Lagman Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation:[ˈʔedsɛl], May 1, 1942 – January 30, 2025) was a Filipino human rights lawyer and politician from theprovince ofAlbay. He was elected as a member of the House from 1987 to 1998 and 2004 to 2013 and from 2016 up until his death. He served asMinority Floor Leader of theHouse of Representatives of the Philippines until 2012, when he resigned the office. Lagman was one of the keyLiberal Party figures in the House of Representatives, having supported theResponsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (which he principally authored), theSOGIE Equality Bill, the Free Tertiary Education Act, the Anti-Dynasty Bill, and the Freedom of Information Bill. He was also the principal author of the Divorce Bill, the Human Rights Defenders Bill, the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy Bill, and the Anti-Child Marriage Bill.
Lagman was instrumental to the abolition of the death penalty in the Philippines in 2006 and continued to oppose proposals to reinstate capital punishment in the country. He was also the principal author of a triumvirate of human rights laws, namely the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (R.A. 9745), the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012 (R.A. 10353), and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 (R.A. 10368).
Edcel Castelar Lagman Sr. was born on May 1, 1942, inMalinao, Albay[1] to Pedro Eduardo Diaz Lagman Jr., a teacher and prosecutor, and Cecilia Castelar, who was also a teacher. His first name was derived from a combination of his parents' names. He was the eldest of six siblings.[2]
Lagman had degrees inpolitical science (cum laude) from theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman in 1962, where he became a member of theAlpha Phi Beta fraternity. He eventually finished hisBachelor of Laws at theUniversity of the Philippines College of Law in 1966. He also served as a managing editor of thePhilippine Collegian and editor of the UP Law Register.[3]
Lagman first entered government as a deputy minister of theMinistry of Budget and Management in 1986, during the presidency ofCorazon Aquino.[3]
Lagman was elected to a total of eight terms as a member of theHouse of Representatives, representing the1st district ofAlbay. He first served from 1987 to 1998, and then from 2004 to 2013, and from 2016 until his death in 2025. His daughter Krisel represented the district from 1998 to 2004 and his sonEdcel Greco from 2013 to 2016. Lagman also ran forsenator in 1998 under theLaban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino coalition and for representative of the4th district ofQuezon City in2001 but lost on both occasions.[4] He was also theHouse Minority Leader from 2010 to 2012.[5] He was the main proponent of theResponsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.
Lagman was previously a member ofLakas-CMD, of which he was party president from 2011 to 2012,[6][7] He later joined theLiberal Party and became its party president in 2022.[8] During the presidency ofRodrigo Duterte, he was part of the Magnificent 7 opposition bloc in the House of Representatives.[3]
On June 5, 2017, Lagman criticized the bill declaring martial law because of theSiege of Marawi. The petition[a] states that:
The declaration of martial law has no sufficient factual basis because there is no rebellion or invasion in Marawi City or in any part of Mindanao. It argues that acts of terrorism in Mindanao do not constitute rebellion since there is no proof that its purpose is to remove Mindanao or any part thereof from allegiance to the Philippines, its laws, or its territory.[9]
In May 2024, former Senate PresidentTito Sotto claimed that the Absolute Divorce bill, which Lagman authored was "lost". The bill itself was accepted by thePhilippine House of Representatives, considering the acceptance, Lagman claimed that Sotto was "lost". “I don’t think he knows how to count. It’s as if he was not Senate president,” Lagman said. The bill was also criticized by theCatholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, Fr. Jerome Secillano stated that “It’s not surprising anymore. The Lower House always passed it in previous Congress. We already have existing legal remedies to couple separation and yet Congress decided to add more”.[10]
Lagman was the elder brother ofFilemon "Popoy" Lagman, the founder of thePartido ng Manggagawa and theAlex Boncayao Brigade who wasassassinated in 2001.[11] Another brother,Hermon, was a politicalactivist who disappeared during themartial law government of PresidentFerdinand Marcos.[12]
Lagman was married to Maria Cielo Lagman (née Burce) (1944–2017),Tabaco's first elected woman City Mayor and has seven children includingKrisel,Edcel Greco.[citation needed] Edcel Greco becameGovernor of Albay.[13]
Lagman died from a cardiac arrest on January 30, 2025, at the age of 82.[14] His wake was first held at theMount Carmel Shrine in Quezon City from January 31 to February 2, before being flown to Albay,[15] where his remains lay at his residence inBacacay until February 4 and at theTabaco Church on February 4.[16] A necrological service for him was held at theBatasang Pambansa on February 5.[17] His remains returned to the Mount Carmel Shrine for another wake until his interment at theLoyola Memorial Park inMarikina on February 10.[18]
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| House of Representatives of the Philippines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives 2010–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant District reestablished Title last held by Armando Cope | Representative, 1st District of Albay 1987–1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Krisel Lagman | Representative, 1st District of Albay 2004–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Representative, 1st District of Albay 2016–2025 | Succeeded by Krisel Lagman |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byas Chairman of Lakas–Kampi–CMD | Chairman of Lakas–CMD 2011–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of theLiberal Party 2022–2025 | Succeeded by |