Senators, business leaders differ on Arroyo as Speaker

SENATORS ON Tuesday responded with caution or suspicion toward former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo’s assuming the leadership of the House of Representatives, following a power play at the chamber on Monday night.

On the other hand, business leaders sought for comment said they “welcome” or “look forward” to Ms. Arroyo’s new stint, citing her background as an economist.

Ms. Arroyo, the 2nd-district representative of Pampanga, was elected the new Speaker soon after President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, which was delayed by more than an hour in the course of that power play that toppled Pantaleon D. Alvarez of the 1st district of Davao del Norte from the House leadership.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson in a statement warned the Senate will assert its role in the Duterte administration’s legislative agenda of constitutional amendments.

“Regardless of whether it was Rep. Arroyo or somebody else replacing the ousted Speaker, what happened yesterday is a strong argument against a parliamentary form of government where patronage politics plays a major, if not the only, role in selecting our country’s top leader,” Mr. Lacson said.

He added: “If GMA’s (referring to Ms. Arroyo) ascension to the speakership is a prelude to becoming Prime Minister, they better think twice because the Senate, both majority and minority, have agreed to close ranks to defend and assert our role under the 1987 Constitution in revising or amending the same. That, I can say with certainty and conviction.”

Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares said she also opposes Ms. Arroyo’s election to the Speakership, citing the country’s political situation under her presidency. The senator’s father, the late movie actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., lost to Ms. Arroyo in the highly controversial 2004 presidential elections, which was hounded by allegations of poll fraud.