Henry Oaminal Explained

Henry Oaminal
Office:Governor of Misamis Occidental
Term Start:June 30, 2022
Vicegovernor:Rowena Gutierrez
Predecessor:Philip T. Tan
Office1:Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Misamis Occidental's 2nd District
Term Start1:June 30, 2013
Term End1:June 30, 2022
Predecessor1:Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
Successor1:Sancho Fernando F. Oaminal
Office2:Deputy Speaker of the
House of Representatives
Alongside2:several others
Term Start2:July 29, 2019
Term End2:June 1, 2022
Office3:Vice Governor of Misamis Occidental
Term Start3:June 30, 2010
Term End3:June 30, 2013
Governor3:Herminia M. Ramiro
Predecessor3:Francisco T. Paylaga Jr.
Successor3:Aurora Virginia M. Almonte
Office4:Member of the
Misamis Occidental Provincial Board
Term Start4:June 30, 2007
Term End4:June 30, 2010
Governor4:Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
Birth Name:Henry Sevilla Oaminal
Birth Date:October 11, 1958
Birth Place:Clarin, Misamis Occidental, Philippines
Signature:Henry Oaminal Signature.png
Party:Nacionalista
(2007–2017; 2019–present)
Asenso Pinoy Party (2024-present)
Otherparty:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (2017–2019)

Henry Sevilla Oaminal Sr. (born October 11, 1958) is a Filipino politician, lawyer, and businessman serving as the governor of Misamis Occidental since 2022. He was the Representative of Misamis Occidental's 2nd district from 2013 to 2022 and was a House Deputy Speaker from 2019 to 2022.

Political career

On July 10, 2020, Oaminal was one of the 70 representatives who voted to reject the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[1]

Controversies

Lam-an housing project

In early 2020, at least 5 houses have been demolished in Barangay Lam-an, Ozamiz City to make way for a free housing project for informal settlers. Longtime homes and landowners complained about 'harassment' and believed that the eviction lacked legal basis. Families were allegedly threatened to leave and 'pack up' by their barangay captain, councilor, and Oaminal himself. Oaminal debunked this claim saying that their family was always 'observant of the rule of law'.[2]

Rodante Marcoleta, party-list representative of SAGIP, called on to have Oaminal investigated by the Committee on Ethics and the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability for his alleged involvement in the illegal demolition for the Lam-an housing project. Marcoleta pointed out that the Neri family has a valid title to the property where their property stood. He pointed out that the construction of a housing project on private property is a violation of R.A. 7279 otherwise known as the 'Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992'.[3]

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco ordered hearings to stop, DIWA party list chairman Michael Aglipay confirmed. Oaminal was given 3 weeks to compensate the affected families.[4]

DPWH corruption allegations

In 2020, Oaminal was included in the list of 9 lawmakers who were allegedly involved in corruption related to infrastructure projects.[5] He said that the report from the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission is 'not a condemnation or indictment' and should 'not be taken as the gospel of truth'. He says he supports the anti-graft campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.[6]

House session attendance despite positive COVID-19 test

Oaminal attended the opening session of the House of Representatives on July 26, 2021, despite testing positive in a COVID-19 test taken on the day before President Rodrigo Duterte's sixth State of the Nation Address, breaking the isolation rules set by the Department of Health. Oaminal said he received his antigen in the evening before the SONA. He said he was immediately scheduled to get tested for COVID-19 in a lab. His sample was taken at 12:10 AM and he received his negative results at 5:15 AM before the SONA.[7]

PNB case

In 2021, the Supreme Court granted the petition of Philippine National Bank, overturning the decision of the Court of Appeals on June 1, 2015. PNB's petition seeks to revive criminal charges against Oaminal for six bouncing checks worth P12,797,767.20 in 2002. The court has directed the second branch of the Municipal Court in Ozamiz City to resume the trial on G.R. No. 219325 for six counts of violation of Batas Pambansa (PB) Bilang 22, otherwise known as the Bouncing Checks Law.[8]

Assassination attempt

On 15 October 2023, Oaminal survived an IED attack on his convoy in Clarin, Misamis Occidental.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal . . July 10, 2020 . July 22, 2020 . Perez-Rubio . Bella.
  2. News: In Ozamiz City, officials evict residents during a pandemic for a housing project. Talabong. Ramon. rappler.com. 2021-10-27.
  3. News: 2 House officials fight over Ozamis City demolition. Rosario. Ben. mb.com.ph. 2021-10-27.
  4. News: With deputies fighting, Velasco brokers own 'gentleman's agreement'. https://web.archive.org/web/20201228152328/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/28/Duterte-lawmakers-alleged-corrupt-activities-.html. dead. December 28, 2020. Talabong. Rambo. rappler.com. 2021-10-27.
  5. News: Duterte names lawmakers involved in alleged DPWH corruption despite 'no hard evidence'. https://web.archive.org/web/20201228152328/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/12/28/Duterte-lawmakers-alleged-corrupt-activities-.html. dead. December 28, 2020. Ferreras. Vince. cnnphilippines.com. 2021-10-27.
  6. News: MisOcc solon welcomes probe to clear name in DPWH mess. Luczon. Nef. pna.gov.ph. 2021-10-27.
  7. News: Deputy Speaker Oaminal tests positive on SONA eve, attends House session. Talabong. Rambo. rappler.com. 2021-10-27.
  8. News: Supreme Court directs Ozamiz court to pursue PNB cases vs lawyer over unfunded checks. Añago. Bianca Angelica. bworldonline.com. 2021-10-27.
  9. News: Misamis Occidental governor survives roadside bomb attack . ABS-CBN . 18 October 2023.