Arroyo installed new House Speaker
By BEN R. ROSARIO and ELLSON A. QUISMORIO Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was finally installed last night as the new and first woman speaker of the House of Representatives, replacing Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
In a roll call voting after President Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), a total of 184 House members backed the approval of Arroyo’s nomination as the next House leader. At least 12 congressmen, mostly Liberal Party members who voted along
partylines, abstained.
For the second time Monday, Arroyo took her oath of office before Ang Kabuhayan Party-list Rep. Dennis Laogan, the youngest House member at age 27.
Before the SONA, Laogan administered Arroyo’s oath of office when she was declared new Speaker by 162 votes during a surprise session held following the abrupt adjournment, resulting in the failure of the House to ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
At least 243 congressmen remained at the session hall after President Duterte delivered his SONA and resolved the leadership tiff that hounded the Lower House.
The holding of an extended session was in compliance with the agreement between Arroyo and Alvarez to conclude the controversy that delayed Duterte’s SONA.
“There was an agreement that we will finish everything as part of the deal that allowed Speaker Alvarez to preside for the Lower House during the SONA,” revealed Deputy Speaker and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro.
According to Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya Jr., Arroyo agreed to finish the SONA with Alvarez sitting as House leader.
Andaya said the new Speaker would take over the leadership of the lower chamber beginning Tuesday, saying it is her who has the support of the majority.
“Ayon kay Speaker GMA, kumbaga napagkasunduan na patapusin niya ang SONA na nakaupo si Speaker Alvarez, at pagkatapos noon, si GMA na ang mamumuno ng House of Representatives dahil siya ang nagre-representa ng mayorya talaga,” Andaya told reporters in a chance interview after President Duterte delivered his SONA.
Andaya, who served as Arroyo’s Budget secretary, initiated the ouster bid when Alvarez, together with Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, failed to show up at the session.
But as he spoke, Andaya’s microphone was turned off, prompting pro-Arroyo congressmen to gather near him to hear him out. No secretariat was present, while the mace, the symbol of House authority, was missing.
During extended session, Castro was voted to be temporary majority leader.
As the public address system was restored, the session proceeded without the mace, prompting Andaya to declare that it is merely a symbol that can be replaced by the will of majority of the House members.
The temporary leadership also directed the House Sergeant-at-Arms Roland Detabali to explain the disappearance of the mace.
The House symbol of authority was returned prior to the announcement of the voting.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Antonino quickly moved to declare all positions vacant before Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu nominated Arroyo.
With Arroyo as the lone nominee, the House proceeded to formalize the voting.
LP solons welcomed the leadership change but agreed to abstain while three Makabayan lawmakers, led by ACT Teachers partylist, voted “no.”
The chair ruled to count the “no” votes as abstention.
Arroyo received the speakership victory when leaders from various political groups backed her as Alvarez's replacement.
Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said the National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People's Coalition, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, and the United Nationalist Alliance vowed support for Arroyo.
At least 40 PDP-Laban members, led by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, also backed Arroyo.
Palace denies role
Malacañang denied that it had a hand in the supposed leadership row in the House of Representatives between the camps of Alvarez and Arroyo.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, in a press briefing, said that the Palace will let the House of Representatives resolve its own issue.
“Hinahayaan po namin sa mga miyembro ng Kamara na magkaroon ng sariling desisyon pagdating sa kanilang liderato (We are letting the members of the House of Representatives to have their own decision when it comes to their leadership),” he said.
“This is an internal matter reserved for the House of Representatives,” he added.
News of lawmakers ousting Alvarez surfaced Monday morning before the House of Representatives even opened their regular session.
It was reported that Presidential daughter, Mayor Duterte-Carpio, initiated the move to oust Alvarez and endorsed former President Arroyo to take over the position. Carpio refused to comment on the matter. (With a report from Argyll B. Geducos)