Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8) — Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has once again denied she was plotting to seize the House speakership from incumbent Martin Romualdez following her removal as deputy speaker.
Arroyo and fellow deputy speaker Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab were ousted from their position because they did not sign a resolution intended to dispel supposed threats against the lower chamber.
READ: House ousts Arroyo, Ungab as deputy speakers
“I was abroad when the Resolution was signed, so I was not able to sign it,” Arroyo said in a statement on Wednesday.
“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 part of,” the former president.
Arroyo previously said she was initially vying for the speakership in 2022 when Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the presidential election, but withdrew after seeing that Marcos wanted his cousin Romualdez to be the speaker.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday, Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Arroyo had other options to vote on the resolution despite being abroad. This can be done by sending a message or signifying her vote through her chief of staff, he noted.
Pimentel was also sure the resolution was presented to all members, especially to the House leaders since it was first introduced to them prior to taking it to the plenary. The chiefs of staff were also there to communicate all information to the congressmen, he added.
Pimentel emphasized that the position of deputy speaker is the second to the highest post in the chamber, so the congressman holding it must be aligned with the direction of the House speaker.
“The leadership decided that we believe that their ideals or direction is not aligned with the leadership, so they decided to replace them with members who are more attuned with the direction of the leadership,” he explained.
