Palace ‘ready to work’with Arroyo as new House Speaker

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, July 24, expressed readiness to work with the newly-elected House Speaker Gloria Macapagal -Ar r oyo.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said that while the executive department does not meddle in the internal affairs of the House of Representatives, it would be willing to cooperate with the “chosen” House l ead er.

“We do not interfere in purely internal matters of the House [but] we’re ready to work with the chosen leader of the House,” the Palace official said in a press conference with Palace reporters.

“We are of course able and ready to meet and speak with House Speaker Arroyo. We have had good relationship with Speaker Arroyo,” he added.

The dramatic shake-up in the House leadership was a scene-stealer during Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 23.

July 23 was supposed to be Duterte’s day to highlight his administration’s accomplishments, but the unprecedented, successful coup against ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez gained more of the public attention.

Both Alvarez and Arroyo are allies of Duterte.

Roque admitted that Duterte was “visibly concerned” about Alvarez’s earlier call to postpone the 2019 midterm elections to pave the way for the government’s plan to establish a federal state.