(Eagle News)– Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, July 24, vowed to carry out the “legislative agenda” of President Rodrigo Duterte in the House of Representatives as its new Speaker.
“I am extremely honored to have been supported by my colleagues at the House of Representatives to be their new Speaker,” she said in a short statement on Tuesday, July 24.
Arroyo, who reportedly had Davao Mayor Sara Duterte’s backing, replaced Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez on the day President Rodrigo Duterte held his third State of the Nation Address.
The presidential daughter had been engaged in a word war with Alvarez after her establishment of a regional party.
Alvarez called the Davao mayor a member of the opposition for her move, but she denied this, saying the putting up of the regional party had the blessing of her father.
Arroyo’s election came prior to the SONA, during an informal voting of lawmakers that took place after the Lower House’s session was abruptly terminated by allies of Alvarez, even with Rep. Rolando Andaya, Arroyo’s budget secretary, opposing the motion to adjourn the session.
The President’s speech was reportedly delayed for over an hour due to the leadership issue, with reports saying he had to speak to both Arroyo and Alvarez separately.
After the alleged talk, it was Alvarez who sat beside the President during his speech, something reserved for the House Speaker.
Following the President’s SONA, though, 238 members of the House stayed on to formally install Arroyo as Speaker in a special session–184 voted for Arroyo while 12 abstained.
Arroyo was deputy speaker of the House until she was removed from the position by Alvarez in March after she voted against the death penalty bill.
