Women's group calls Arroyo 'cheater for all seasons'

MANILA - Representatives of women's party-list group Gabriela at the House of Representatives have branded House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the "cheater for all seasons."

Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said the railroading of House Resolution 2025 proved that Arroyo is a cheater.

"Talagang batikang magnanakaw ng kapangyarihan si Arroyo. Siya na ang "Cheater for All Seasons," Gabriela said in a statement.

The group noted that Arroyo's ascendance to the presidency was also marred by allegations of electoral fraud in 2004.

"Klarong nalalantad ang garapal na maniobra dito sa Batasan para sementuhan ang speakership ni Arroyo," Gabriela said.

"??We've known this House to bypass the rules and procedures to pursue self-serving interests. Pero sa ipinapakita sa ngayon, the Lower House is fast becoming the Lowest House," ended Gabriela.

On Wednesday, July 25, the House adopted House Resolution 2025 entering into the records of the House the July 23, 2018 proceedings that declared Arroyo as House Speaker in a vote of 184.

This amid the move of former House majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas to question the legitimacy of the resolution and the objection of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio to the motion to approve the said resolution.

For Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate the railroading of the House Resolution 2025 proves that the proceedings that happened last Monday is bogus.

"Ang pagratsada sa adoption ng House Resolutuion 2025 to supposedly legitimize the sham election as speaker of GMA last Monday ay tuwirang pag-amin ng bagong mayorya na bogus nga ang naturang proceedings," he said.

Zararte said the session that installed Arroyo as House Speaker did not have minutes or record of proceedings, thereby making it illegitimate.

"Before, in the "Hello Garci Episode", GMA stole the presidency not just once but twice.?? Now, in the "Goodbye, Bebot Episode", she supposedly took her oath as speaker not once but also twice," he said.

"Yet, the cunning similarity is obvious: her legitimacy as president was questionable then, so is the legitimacy of her speakership now. This repeated charade is highly condemnable," he ended.

ACT Teacher's Rep. Antonio Tinio said "it's a blatant admission on the part of the Arroyo camp that the said elections were not part of the official proceedings of the House as required by the Constitution."

He said it is tantamount to an admission that the session that elected her was a mere caucus.