Prospero Pichay Jr.

Prospero Arreza Pichay Jr. (born June 20, 1950), also known as Butch Pichay, is a Philippine politician. He is the incumbent congressman/representative of Surigao del Sur's 1st district and had previously held the same position from 1998 to 2007. He was also the chairman of the Committee on National Defense of the 13th Congress of the Philippines. He is a member of the formerly dominant political party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino.

Pichay was born on June 20, 1950 in the town of Cantilan in the then province of Surigao (now Surigao del Sur). He is the son of former Carmen, Surigao del Sur Provincial Treasurer Prospero Pichay Sr. He has a brother named Philip who also happens to be a former congressman in Surigao del Sur's 1st district and now incumbent mayor of Cantilan. He is a relative of Wenceslao Arreza, former mayor of Carmen, Surigao del Sur, and Alfred Arreza, former mayor of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur. He is a relative of Carmeling Pichay-Crisologo, former Governor of Ilocos Sur whose husband is former Ilocos Sur Representative Floro Crisologo.

Pichay went to Tandag Central Elementary School and graduated in 1962. He went to Saint Peter's Seminary of Surigao and graduated in 1966. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce at De La Salle University in Manila in 1970.

Business and sports career

Pichay is the owner of Carlo Commercial Publishing, a printing press, and Carlo Publishing, the makers of hit street tabloid "Remate". He also owns DZME a commercial AM radio station in Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City.

Pichay is an avid surfer. While a young boy, Pichay would wonder in awe at the big waves in his native Surigao del Sur, and wished to somehow help the poor local fishermen who had to struggle with to survive. He would realize much later that these forces of the sea could be effective tools in contributing to development through tourism, hence, his determined efforts to promote surfing in the country. As Chairman of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), Pichay promotes the various surfing destinations in the country, including the town of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.

Pichay is also a chess enthusiast. He is the president of National Chess Federation Philippines (NCFP). He is a close friend of Philippine chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, and Mark Paragua. In terms of skill, he can be considered a novice. He is also known for ignoring Wesley So's letter in terms of representing Philippines which is one of the best chessplayers to date.

Congressman (1998-2007)

With no prior experience in politics, Pichay ran for congressman for the 1st District of Surigao del Sur in the 1998 elections for the position to be vacated by Mario S. Ty (1987–1998)

In 2000, Pichay joins congressmen who endorsed the verified complaint against President Joseph Estrada. Coming under the heels of EDSA 2, Congress was reorganized and Pichay was elected Chairman of the House Committee on National Defense. He was again named to the same post when his constituents overwhelmingly voted him into office in the elections for the 12th Congress. Pichay was re-elected as congressman in the 2004 elections. When the Thirteenth Congress was organized, Pichay's political career would take on a more prominent course: he was named Head of the House of Representatives Contingent to the powerful Commission on Appointment (CA).

Pichay voted to junk the 2005 and 2006 impeachment complaints against President Arroyo. At the height of the "Hello Garci Scandal", he said there was nothing wrong with Arroyo talking to Comelec officials, as all candidates talk to them to protect their votes. On October 2006, Pichay authored House Resolution 1285, which sought to convene a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution. One of his proposals is the abolition of the Philippine senate and the creation of a unicameral parliament. The resolution was widely opposed by civil society and church groups and the resolution was shelved on the same month.

When the Department of Justice announced a plan to ban all government officials from going to bars, karaoke joints and other nightspots, Pichay assailed the move as the "highest form of hypocrisy." Pichay believes there is nothing wrong with going to bars if public officials do it on their own time. “Moralizing is very subjective. We should not mix it with governance."

On August 28, 2008, Pichay announced that he will not accept his appointment as board member of the Local Waterworks and Utilities Administration LWUA, for he is satisfied with his current job in a private company. Pichay Jr., however, on September 4, changed his mind and accepted his appointment as a member of the board of the LWUA. Eduardo Ermita announced that Pichay has decided to accept his appointment as board member with a nomination to be elected as chairman.

Senatorial bid

Pichay ran for senator in 2007 under TEAM Unity but lost after placing 16th in the overall results. Pichay reportedly spent P127.39 million for campaign ads, the highest candidate expenditure for that election.

Other positions

Pichay holds several positions, including:

• Dates unknown: Chairman of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF)
• August 2008–present: Member of the Board of Local Waterworks and Utilities Administration
• Dates unknown: President of the Philippine Chess Federation (NCFP)

• Under Article 10, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, locally-elected officials (including members of the House of Representatives) may run up to three consecutive terms.
• gmanews.tv/story, Pichay turns down offer of new govt post
• gmanews.tv/story, Pichay appointed as head of waterworks agency
• Sec. 7, R.A. No. 8041, the "National Water Crisis Act of 1995."
• lwua.gov.ph, LWUA: Thirty years of service to a once-thirsty nation
• abs-cbnnews.com, Singson confirms appointment as deputy NSA
• manilastandardtoday.com, Rigodon resumes; Pichay takes the plunge
• http://cmfr-phil.org/media-ethics-responsibility/ethics/why-pichay-still-lost-the-importance-of-political-ads/

Pichay has no laws that he primarily authored. He has three (3) laws that he co-authored during her term as congressman for nine (9) years.

• RA 9355 - Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands
• RA 9340 - Amending RA 9164 to extend the terms of office of barangay officials and reset the date of barangay elections
• RA 9344 - Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act

Pichay criticized Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez in September 2016 for closing down numerous mining sites in the country which were proven to have destroyed Philippine natural environment. He called her 'crazy' during a house consultation where Lopez was not invited. It was later found that Pichay is the president of the board of directors of Claver Mineral Development Corp, a nickel mining firm operating in Barangay Cagdianao at the municipality of Claver. Pichay reportedly acquired 60 percent of the mining firm. The mining firm's operation were scrapped by Gina Lopez after the firm violated the mining standard of the country, destroying the environment during the time the mine was in operation.

Pichay also faces multiple charges of graft, malversation and violations of banking regulations for approving when he was Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman the allegedly anomalous buyout of an insolvent bank owned by the business clan Gatchalians.