FORMER Cagayan de Oro City congressman Rufus Rodriguez over the weekend said his track record during his nine-year stint in Congress is his advantage over administration candidate Yan Lam Lim.
Rodriguez, a three-termer congressman, is hoping to make a comeback in the House of Representatives under the Padayon Pilipino-Centrist Democratic Party coalition while Lim, the incumbent president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), is running under the administration ticket.
Both are seeking to represent the Second District in Cagayan de Oro City in the House of Representatives.
"I am running in the same office that I have been able to serve well and I can deliver more for the city as an experienced and veteran in Congress," Rodriguez said.
The seasoned lawmaker said Lim would likely have difficulty representing the city's second district should he win in the elections.
Rodriguez said Lim will have a hard time keeping pace with the other congressmen during plenary sessions and committee hearings.
"He is not a lawyer so with the legal issues involved in the debate on the law, he will have difficulty in not having a legal background. And I think he would have difficulty debating in the floor and committee hearings," Rodriguez said.
"In terms of being able to fully represent our district in committee hearings and plenary session, in making laws and securing more budgets, I think I have the upper hand," he added.
However, Rodriguez said it would still be up to the voting public who they think fits to represent the second district in congress.
This, as he appeals to the people to consider his accomplishments and the projects he implemented in the past years.
"The people already know that I'm a fighter in Congress. I can debate with anybody because you have to debate for your bill and when you ask for more budget. It's a matter of standing up in congress for our people," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was named as one of the outstanding congressmen with the most number of bills passed and enacted into law. He was also recognized for having a perfect attendance in Congress.
He explained that he is seeking a congressional seat again to bring new infrastructure projects and continue the unfinished ones such as the extension of the coastal bypass road from Barangay Gusa to Bugo, this city.
He would also want to file bills related to education and health that would benefit the people of the second district.
"I think the people will see my track record while Lim does not have anything yet to show as far as human infrastructure," Rodriguez said.