Rep. Edcel Lagman attends the House of Representatives plenary session in Quezon City on August 28, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Among late Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman’s last wishes was for the divorce and the teenage pregnancy prevention bills to be passed into law, his daughter said on Saturday, the second day of his wake in the capital region.

The last work-related thing that Lagman did was to send “all the materials we had on divorce and the prevention of teenage pregnancy bills” to the office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Larah Lagman-Ramirez told ABS-CBN News. 

“Papa is not with us anymore but he will live on through all the bills, through all the laws he has passed,” she said. 

“All those progressive, pro-poor, pro-people laws, which will help everyone here in the Philippines,” she added.

 The House passed the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention bill in 2023, but last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Congress to revise its counterpart measure Senate Bill (SB) 1979 or the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act after a provision on sex education for youngsters was criticized by conservative lawmakers and groups.

 Anak ni Rep. Edcel Lagman inilala ang mga huling sandali kasama ang ama

On the other hand, the House passed its divorce bill last year.

 “As he has always said, it’s not for everybody. We should not be scared of it because it is not for happy marriages,” Lagman-Ramirez said.

 “It is for marriages that are beyond repair, for marriages that are abusive, for abandoned wives so this is primarily a pro-woman measure like many of his bills and laws, he has always taken a pro-woman stance,” she said.

 Lagman was among the staunch advocates of the Reproductive Health Act, which took aver a decade to pass, said his daughter, who also worked as his chief of staff. 

It was typical for the Albay lawmaker to see through the measures and advocacies he believed in, she said. 

“That’s why I learned from him: Never do things in half measure. Give it your all. Dapat wholehearted lahat ng gagawin mo and that was what he did,” she said.

 “Do not settle for anything less than you deserve, that is one. Do not take no for an answer if you want yes. Do not be mediocre. Do your best always. There is no room for mediocrity in this life,” she said.

 “It’s all or nothing for Papa. Buong puso lagi.”

 Lagman’s remains will be flown to Albay on February 2.

 Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman passes away

“Albay was always important for Papa. He was primarily, first and foremost, a son of Albay. He was an Albayano through and through,” Lagman-Ramirez said. 

“It would be remiss of us if we do not bring him back there where he is loved by everyone,” she added. 

Lagman’s remains will return to Manila on February 5 in time for necrological services at the House of Representatives.

 Among those who are expected to deliver eulogies and speeches for the Albayano lawmaker are Cebu Rep. PJ Garcia, Cebu Rep. Cutie Del Mar, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel and former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte. 

Lagman died after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 82.

 “He fought a good fight, like what he did when he was alive,” his daughter said.

 “He was a fighter until the end but it was his time.”