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MALACAÑANG on Thursday, July 26, expressed confidence that former President and currently House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would use her “considerable skills and experience” in carrying out President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda.

“We look forward to Speaker Arroyo’s successful leadership in Congress, and through that, pushing the President’s priority legislation in the

Lower House,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

“We are confident that Speaker Arroyo would put her considerable skills and experience behind [Duterte’s] agenda,” he added.

On Wednesday, July 25, Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez finally accepted his ouster and acknowledged Arroyo as the new leader of the House.

Alvarez also urged his colleagues to “get back to work and move on” for the country’s sake.

Arroyo was sworn in as the country’s first female House Speaker, following a sucessful coup against Alvarez on Monday, July 23, that trumped Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

In a caucus held after Duterte’s Sona, 184 congressmen declared Arroyo as Alvarez’s replacement.

Roque said the executive department was thankful for Alvarez’s “invaluable service to the institution and to the nation” during the former House Speaker’s two-year grip on the post.

He said it was high time now that the Palace and the House now led by Arroyo work together for the betterment of the country.

“We congratulate Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for becoming the new and 21st Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Palace is eager and ready to work with the new House leadership,” the Palace official said.

“Together, let us roll up our sleeves and start our work in bringing comfortable life for all Filipinos,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)