Alfonso Umali Jr.

Umali has served multiple terms as the Representative for the 2nd District of Oriental Mindoro in the House of Representatives. His first tenure in Congress spanned from 2001 to 2010, after which he ran for Governor. Following his terms as Governor, he returned to the House of Representatives in 2019 and was re-elected for the 2022-2028 term.

During his tenure in Congress, he has served as the Vice Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee.^[2] Among his legislative initiatives, he co-authored House Bill 5753, which was an act to renew the 25-year franchise of ABS-CBN.

In 2021, Representative Umali filed House Resolution No. 1822 urging the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry into what he described as "untimely conduct of public biddings on government ports, sea terminals, and ports facilities by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)." In the resolution, he alleged that bidding processes for five government ports (Puerto Princesa Port, Ormoc Port, Tabaco Port, Legaspi Port, and Calapan Port) were "marred by corruption" and "grossly disadvantageous to the government amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic." Umali claimed that these bidding processes resulted in a loss of approximately ₱1.2 billion to the Philippine government.^[2]

In 2011, both Representative Umali and then-Governor Umali expressed support for the proposal to create a third district in Oriental Mindoro, stating that it would bring "more funds for the province" and "more development" to the region.^[3]

During the 2022 election period, Representative Umali, along with other Oriental Mindoro officials including 1st District Representative Paulino Leachon, met with vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte in a show of support for her candidacy.^[4]

In November 2021, he delivered a message of support at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Provincial Science and Technology Center satellite regional office in Oriental Mindoro, alongside other local government officials.^[5]

Umali served as the Governor of Oriental Mindoro from 2010 to 2019, after completing three terms in the House of Representatives. During his tenure as governor, he faced legal challenges related to allegations of graft and corruption.

In April 2015, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division found Umali guilty of graft in connection with an illegal loan worth ₱2.5 million. The case involved a loan contract awarded to engineer Alfredo Atienza in 1994 for the repair, operations, and maintenance of a transport vessel when Rodolfo Valencia was governor and Umali was provincial administrator. The Sandiganbayan sentenced Umali to imprisonment of 6 years and one month to 10 years, with perpetual disqualification from public office, and ordered him to return ₱2.5 million to the province of Oriental Mindoro.^[6]

Umali filed a motion for reconsideration following this conviction. In July 2015, he filed an administrative complaint against Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chairman Associate Justice Jose Hernandez before the Supreme Court, accusing Hernandez of allegedly attempting to extort ₱15 million from him in exchange for an acquittal. Umali also called for Hernandez to recuse himself from further handling his graft complaint.^[7]

After completing his maximum three consecutive terms as governor in 2019, Umali returned to the House of Representatives.

Umali has served as the Treasurer of the Liberal Party, one of the major political parties in the Philippines. He held this position during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, who was a member of the Liberal Party.^[6] In September 2022, when the Liberal Party underwent leadership changes with Edcel Lagman becoming president and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan becoming chairman, Umali was named to continue as treasurer of the party.^[1]

The most significant controversy in Umali's political career relates to his conviction for graft by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division in April 2015. The case involved a ₱2.5 million loan contract awarded to engineer Alfredo Atienza in 1994 for the repair, operations, and maintenance of a transport vessel when he was provincial administrator under the governorship of Rodolfo Valencia. Both Valencia and Umali were found "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" of violating Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.^[6]

The Sandiganbayan ruling stated that the loan was "grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government." Initially, in 2008, Umali and Valencia were sentenced to imprisonment of up to 10 years for misusing public funds after the court denied their demurrers to evidence. However, the Sandiganbayan agreed to re-open the trial on the grounds that they may not have understood the consequences of waiving their right to present evidence.^[6]

Following his conviction, Umali filed administrative complaints against Sandiganbayan Justice Jose Hernandez, claiming attempted extortion in exchange for an acquittal.^[7]