Justiniano Montano - Political Career

Political Career

Montano was appointed as deputy fiscal of Cavite from 1930 to 1932. Except for the one term he was elected to the Senate, Montano was elected congressman representing his home province Cavite for numerous terms from 1935 to 1973. As a lawmaker he succeeded in abolishing the exorbitant yearly pension of an old wealthy general and also authored and sponsored Act. No. 32, better known as the “Montano Law” which provides confiscation of vast haciendas in Cavite and their partitioning among the tenants working on them.

In 1949, Montano won a seat in the Senate and authored the resolution creating the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee, tasked with investigating graft and corruption. He chaired the Committees on Labor and Immigration and on Provincial and Municipal Governments and Cities. Montano was also a member of the Commission on Appointments and the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

Montano returned to the House of Representatives after his Senate term expired in 1955. During the 5th and 6th Congress, he served as majority floor leader, while he served as minority floor leader during the early part of the 7th Congress. Montano's congressional career ended when Congress was abolished by President Marcos after the declaration of martial law in 1972.