House leadership change to affect Cebu politics

The election of Pampanga Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as House Speaker is seen to have a “significant” impact on Cebu's politics.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the change in the political landscape at the House of Representatives may affect the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

“I'm not worried about PDP-Laban especially now. (President Rodrigo) Duterte is not active in PDP Laban. Number two, his own daughter (Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte) hates PDPLaban. Number 3, Koko Pimentel, the president of PDP Laban, is no longer the Senate president. And now (Rep. Pantaleon) Alvarez is no longer speaker in the House. So, PDP-laban is just another party,” Osmeña said in a phone interview with reporters.

The development, the mayor said, would affect the opposition because they are allied with PDP-Laban.

City Councilor Jose Daluz III, an ally of PDPLaban, agreed with Osmeña.

“I am not surprise. That's politics. I am not sure how it will affect the party but definitely it has a big impact,” he said.

However, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, local president of PDP-Laban, and City Councilor Eduardo Rama think otherwise.

“I don't think that it will affect the party. Because after all, the president is with PDP-Laban. And they are allied with PDP laban, not kaatbang. They are allies. I don't think naay impact or maka-affect na. There's nothing to worry,” Labella said.

Rama said it is too early to say that the ouster of Alvarez would affect the local scene.

Arroyo was elected House Speaker by 184 House members, becoming the 21st leader of the House and the first woman to hold the post. She replaced Davao del Norte Rep. Alvarez.

Osmeña said he does not like Alvarez because the Davao congressman reportedly has been the key behind the power of his critics, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino and Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia.

Moreover, Osmeña and Labella are both certain that Arroyo, with her track record, can help a lot in the Congress. Osmeña said he expects that Arroyo will be “very friendly and very supportive” of his administration.

He recalled that Arroyo granted his request to take her oath of office here in Cebu when she was elected president.

Osmeña said he is also very close with Arroyo whose father, former president Diosdado Macapagal, was his godfather.