The man most likely destined to become the next vice governor of Camarines Sur may be a political neophyte but he has sufficient credentials to bring about needed improvements and reforms in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Atty. Gerardo Felipe “Butch” Ortega is not just a practicing lawyer of distinction. He has been manager of the family-owned Iriga Telephone Company and vice president of another family-owned institution, the University of Saint Anthony also in Iriga City.
In the government, he had been head of the Legal Department of the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation and had also been BIR hearing officer. Added to this, he had been chief of staff in the office of Senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino as well as in the office of the administrator of the National Electrification Administration.
But above all these, he has the idealisms and principles in life that made him stand out among possible contenders for the position of vice governor who presides over the sessions of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. For many decades now, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had not had a lawyer as a presiding officer which may not be a requirement but obviously a necessity since the task largely involves legislation.
Basic and uppermost among his tenets are honesty, sincerity and transparency. He says he will never countenance monkey business not only within the Sangguniang Panlalawigan but in the whole provincial government if given the mandate.
He wants to be a dynamic and proactive leader who is able to respond promptly to constituents and able to plan very well the next steps ahead. He wants innovations but he is opposed to disturbing the culture of people. Respect for everyone – elders, peers and subordinates – is a prime item in his agenda.
Tall, amiable and charismatic, Butch is creating so much waves because the province is obviously in need of a new face in the Sanggunian Panlalawigan with better capability and who could do better than serve as the stamping pad of the governor.
Butch finished his elementary at USANT but moved to Naga City to pursue his high school at the Ateneo de Naga University.
He finished his Bachelor of Science, major in marketing and Bachelor of Laws both at San Beda College and passed the bar in 1985.
Married to Carmina Crisostomo, they have two children, Angelica Felisa, 18, and Victoria, 16.
