MANILA – Former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was chosen by colleagues in the House of Representatives to become the new Speaker and replace Pantaleon Alvarez.
Lawmakers voted for Arroyo before President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon at the Batasang Pambansa.
Reports of Arroyo soon taking over as Speaker surfaced early Monday morning after lawmakers reportedly plotting Alvarez’s ouster reportedly met Sunday in Bonifacio Global City.
The leadership issue on the House of Representatives was cited as the cause for the Lower House’s non-ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Images of Arroyo appearing to take oath and surrounded by colleagues, and trying to address the House caused confusion as they were broadcast with inaudible audio, with the microphone at the Batasang Pambansa plenary hall rostrum switched off.
Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list confirmed in a television interview that Arroyo has been appointed to replace Alvarez. He said many of them wanted “change” in the House leadership.
But it was still Alvarez who welcomed Duterte when the President arrived at the Batasang Pambansa before 4 p.m. Senate President Vicente Sotto III joined them.
Alvarez (Davao del Norte, 1st District), along with Sotto, opened the joint session of Congress and sat through the entire SONA at the plenary hall rostrum.
Before these an all-member caucus was held Monday morning. It was attended by 76 out of 291 representatives who were attending the joint session of Congress.
The House session adjourned at noon but House members returned to the Batasan plenary hall early in the afternoon and passed a manifesto calling for Alvarez’s ouster.
Thirty minutes before the 4 p.m. SONA (the address was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes, actually starting at 5:20 p.m.), drama ensued in the plenary hall when the microphone was switched off while Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, an Arroyo ally, was contesting the adjournment.
Despite this Rep. Karlo Nograles (Davao City, 1st District) went on with the roll call for the vote to appoint Arroyo as new House speaker.
Meanwhile, Alvarez’s allies consider challenging the vote for Arroyo’s appointment since it was held while the session was adjourned. They also plan to seek Duterte’s help.
Earlier in the day several colleagues denied reports that Alvarez will be replaced.
“The session is already adjourned so he will stay as House speaker,” Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro, 2nd District) told the press.
The supposed ouster plot against Alvarez was touched upon briefly during the all-members caucus before the opening of the third and last session of the 17th Congress.
“That’s on the floor. That will be decided by each of the congressmen kung kakailanganin,” Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, 3rd District) had said. “I’m sure may mag-o-object if there would be a move to oust the speaker.”
She added: “I think it is always a question of whether or not things are going well in the House. The issue was barely tackled during our all-member caucus this morning.”
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas laughed off the reported plan to remove Alvarez, saying the speaker continues to have the trust of majority of the representatives.
Opponents of Alvarez met Sunday in Bonifacio Global City to finalize the plan to replace him with Arroyo when the session resumes Monday, media reports said.
Alvarez has been at odds with President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, after the former said in a speech that he has the power to impeach the President.
He has also drawn flak from fellow administration allies in the House of Representative for being dictatorial when pushing for the approval of certain measures./PN
