Anti-death penalty lawmakers ousted from posts before break

HOUSE OF Representatives leaders who voted against the death penalty, including former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo, have been ousted from their posts after House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas declared their positions vacant on Wednesday night, just as Congress went on a break.

For his part, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez said appointments to the committee chairs declared vacant will be made on May 2, when Congress resumes session.

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, who was removed as House Deputy Speaker for Central Luzon, the following committee chairs were also declared vacant:

• Committee on civil service and professional regulation (previously chaired by Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto)

• Committee on Muslim affairs (AMIN party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia A.Turabin-Hataman)

• Committee on people participation (Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka J. Bag-ao)

• Committee on natural resources (Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate)

• Committee on public information(ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio)

• Committee on poverty alleviation (Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi A. De Jesus)

• Committee on overseas workers affairs (Buhay party-list Rep. Mariano Micheal M. Velarde, Jr.)

• Special committee on land use (Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte)

• Committee on women and gender equality (Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar)

• Committee on government reorganization ( Batanes Rep. Henedina R. Abad)

• Committee on basic education ( Sorsogon Rep. Evelina G. Escudero)

Mses. Aglipay-Villar and Abad were absent, along with 17 other lawmakers, during the voting on House Bill 4727 on March 7 — with 217 voting in the affirmative and 54 against, plus one abstention.

Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement following her ouster: “I believe that the issue required a vote based solely on conscience and the deepest of personal convictions. Thus, despite my support for President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez, I voted against House Bill No. 4727.”

“I thank the President for his expression of understanding late last year regarding my position on the issue. I also thank the Speaker for the honor of having served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. It meant much to me. As a plain Congresswoman I will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez,” Mrs. Arroyo also said.

For his part, Mr. Zarate said he and the seven-member Makabayan bloc “stand by our principled decision to vote no against the anti-poor death penalty bill.”

“But it does not speak well for the House leadership to have resorted to arm- twisting and railroading just to ensure the passage of an anti-poor death penalty bill,” he added.

In an ambush interview after the session, Ms. Santos- Recto said she is “prepared” for the reshuffle.

“At the end of the day, it’s your conviction. Kung anong pinaniniwalaan mo, yun ang importante. Naka- psyche na utak ko for that ( What you believe in is important. My mind is psyched for that),” Ms. Santos-Recto said.