Alvarez allies lose key posts as House revamp continues
Supporters of former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday lost key positions as the new leadership under former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to reorganize the House of Representatives.
Notwithstanding a last-minute decision to return to the fold of the majority bloc and support Arroyo’s leadership, Reps. Gwendolyn Garcia (PDP-Laban, Cebu); Jose Mayo Al-
mario (PDP-Laban, Davao Oriental), and Johnny Ty Pimentel (PDP-Laban, Surigaodel Sur) were relieved from their posts.
Garcia was replaced by Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap as deputy speaker while Almario gave up his seat as member of the powerful Commission on Appointments to Masbate Rep. Scott Davies Lanete.
But Garcia was voted as chairperson of the House Committee on Economic Affairs, a position vacated by Yap.
Camiguin Island Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo took over Ty-Pimentel as chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.
Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano, a loyal backer of Alvarez, was also eased out as CA member. Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles took over the position.
Rep. Romero Quimbo (LP, Marikina City) was replaced by Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. as deputy speaker.
LP stalwart Rep. Jorge Bolet Banal was relieved as vice chairman of the Committee on Accounts, with Cavite Rep. Jennifer Austria-Barzaga taking over the post.
Sources said Almario and Ty-Pimentel failed in their respective bids to retain their positions as Arroyo backers remained skeptical of their loyalty to the new leadership.
It was recalled that Almario and TyPimentel were among the lawmakers who joined Alvarez in enlisting membership to the minority faction of ABS Partylist Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera.
But the two congressmen later changed their mind and returned to the Malacañang-backed majority group.
Aside from Alvarez, former senior administration congressmen who joined De Vera’s group were Reps. Rodolfo Fariñas (PDP-Laban, Ilocos Norte) and Reynaldo Umali (PDP-Laban, Mindoro Oriental). They were relieved as majority leader and chairman of the Committee on Justice, respectively.
Elected to replace Fariñas as Majority Leader was Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., while Umali’s post was given to his provincemate Rep. Doy Leachon.