Sen. Lito Lapid’s recent questioning of a witness in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte – said to be his first – has renewed attention on the legislative work of celebrities who became politicians.
But for Dr. Alicor Panao, data scientist for Inquirer and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, legislative data from the Senate present a more complicated picture, especially when the number of bills that became law is considered.
Lapid, he said, has authored 798 bills throughout his career, 97 of which were listed as having become law. This places him eighth among senators with available legislative profiles when ranked by bills that became law, ahead of Sen. Francis Pangilinan with 67 and Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 53.