Albay’s Edcel Lagman, Champion of Human Rights, Passes Away at 82

Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman, a staunch defender of human rights and legal integrity, died on Thursday afternoon at the age of 82, his family announced. The news was shared by Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman, who described her father’s departure as a transition to a better place. Born on May 1, 1942, Edcel Lagman succumbed to cardiac arrest at 5:01 p.m. on January 30, 2025. Throughout his life, Lagman was known for his unwavering commitment to justice, compassion, and bravery. His family highlighted that he lived and died with the same principles that guided his career. They pledged to keep his memory alive by living in a way that would honor his legacy. Lagman’s legislative achievements include significant contributions to the abolition of the death penalty, the passage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, and the Centenarian Act. He was also a key figure in the enactment of the Reproductive Health Act and a prominent author of legislation aimed at preventing child marriage. At the time of his death, he was serving as the president of the Liberal Party.