Lawrence Fortun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Hernandez and the surname or paternal family name is Fortun.
Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun
House of Representatives official portrait of Lawrence H. Fortun.jpg
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Agusan del Norte's First District
Assumed office
June 30, 2013
Preceded byJose Aquino II
Vice Mayor of Butuan City
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byDino Claudio Sanchez
Succeeded byAngelo S. Calo
Councilor of Butuan City
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010
Personal details
Born (1971-08-07) August 7, 1971 (age 50)
Butuan City, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political party
ResidenceButuan City
ProfessionLawyer

Lawrence Lemuel Hernandez Fortun,[1] also known as Law Fortun, (born August 7, 1971) is a Filipino politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing Agusan del Norte's 1st congressional district.

Early life and education[]

Fortun was born on August 7, 1971 in Butuan City, the son of Camilo Fortun[2] and Geraldine Hernandez-Fortun.[3] His father was a former member of the Butuan City Council and an opposition leader during the Marcos regime.[4]

He graduated from Father Saturnino Urios University with a degree in political science. He finished his law degree at San Sebastian College – Recoletos and was admitted to the bar in 2001. He completed the Young Democrats Leadership Course at International Academy of Leadership in Saarbruken, Germany.[5]

Career[]

Prior to entering politics, Fortun was involved in private legal practice.[2] He served as the chief of staff of former deputy majority leader and Laguna congressman and was a staffer to then-Senator Mar Roxas.[5] He also served as a legal consultant of the House Committee on Rules and a staff officer of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation.[5]

Political career[]

Fortun's political career began when he was elected to the Butuan City Council in 2007.[2][5] In the 2010 Philippine general election, he ran as vice mayor of the city and won.[2] He sought for higher office in the 2013 Philippine general election where he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives. Campaigning under the Liberal Party, his opponent was United Nationalist Alliance candidate Roan Libarios who formerly was the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.[6] He successfully won the seat and the succeeding reelection races of 2016 and 2019. In the 2019 elections, he ran under the Nacionalista Party. Fortun is currently in his third consecutive term as a congressman and is thus barred from running again in that same position.

In his first term in the House, Fortun was one of the few neophyte members who sought for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund amid the controversy of the pork barrel scam. He also co-authored a freedom of information bill and crafted the Civil Registration Act of 2014.[5] During the 17th Congress, he voted to reject a bill that sought to revive the death penalty. He also was the only member of the House Committee on Justice that rejected a bill that aimed to lower the minimum age of criminal liability to 9 years of age.[2] In the 18th Congress, he was one of the 11 members of congress that voted to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN.[7] He also voted against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.[8]

Personal life[]

Fortun is married to Marie Therese Fontanilla-Fortun.[3] They have three sons.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=fortun-l
  2. ^ a b c d e Gavilan, Jodesz. "FAST FACTS: Who is Agusan del Norte Representative Lawrence Fortun?". Rappler. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Samonte, Pat (September 12, 2014). "Butuanons bid goodbye to Mrs. Geraldine H. Fortun". Mindanao Daily Caraga. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Pantaleon, Alden (May 13, 2010). "Plaza loses in Butuan; in Caraga, Barbers out, Matugas in". MindaNews. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Knowing Law Fortun". lawfortun.wordpress.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Diez, May (May 14, 2013). "Libarios bows to Fortun in Agusan del Norte". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  7. ^ News, Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN (July 9, 2021). "Brave 11: Solons who voted for ABS-CBN's franchise renewal". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (June 4, 2020). "These lawmakers withdrew support for Anti-Terror Bill after initially backing it". Interaksyon. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
Retrieved from ""