(UPDATE) PAMPANGA 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that she will continue to support Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and reiterated that she was not interested in the Speakership.
Her comments come after she and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab were ousted as deputy speakers for failing to sign House Resolution 1414 that “upholds the integrity of the House of Representatives” and “supports the leadership” of Romualdez last Monday.
PAMPANGA 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Photo from House of Representatives of the Philippines
In a statement shared to reporters on Wednesday, Arroyo maintained that she was out of the country when the resolution was issued, and therefore, was unable to sign it. She stressed, however, that the resolution “does not contain anything new” for her.
The former president stressed that since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. preferred Romualdez, she had taken that position to support him and advised Marcos in writing.
“Second, I have never taken or supported any action to remove Speaker Romualdez from his position. In fact, I have publicly stated that I have given up any plans to aspire for the Speakership again, in this and any future Congress that I would have the honor to be a part of,” Arroyo added.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Arroyo said that “there is nothing that she could do” if some “intriguers” had convinced Romualdez of “falsehood” that she was against his leadership.
“I will remain true to my word to President Marcos Jr. — I will continue to support his preferred man for House Speaker, and that is Speaker Martin Romualdez.” Arroyo said, adding that the public should move on now to more pressing national concerns.
Arroyo was replaced as deputy speaker by Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano who served as former head of then government-owned Radio Philippines Network (RPN) under Arroyo’s term as president.
In a separate statement, House Ways and Means committee chairman and Albay 2nd District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda said that recent events regarding the House leadership have not affected the pace of the legislative performance of the lawmakers.
“At the end of the day, the committee is a policy office — and a very hardworking one, at that. We follow the direction of the President and the House leadership over policy questions,” Salceda, who was Arroyo’s former student at the Ateneo de Manila University and a one-time economic adviser in her Cabinet, added.
He said that the leadership of the House has given him “specific instructions and deadlines” regarding presidential priorities and that “nothing” will stand in their way in getting these priorities delivered by his committee.
“Committee chairs like me are tasked with policy. Trabahante lang po kami (we are just workers), and in the job that needs to be done, I follow, abide by, and fully support the strong leadership of Speaker Romualdez — who has delivered on [President Marcos’] agenda with flying colors,” Salceda said.
