Arroyo: Legislative agenda to be carried out at House

“I will endeavor to carry out the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Lower House,” Arroyo, who represents the second district of Pampanga, said. (File Photo: KING RODRIGUEZ/ Presidential Photo)

After she assumed her new post, former president-turned-House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed that she would carry out President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda in the lower chamber.

In a statement released on Tuesday, July 24, Arroyo said she is “extremely honored” that her colleagues at the House of Representatives supported her rise to the Speakership.

“I will endeavor to carry out the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Lower House,” Arroyo, who represents the second district of Pampanga, said.

Following the scene-stealing move by lawmakers at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday night, July 23, Arroyo formally took her oath as the new speaker of the House, unseating Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez. Her oath of office was administered by Ang Kabuhayan Partylist Representative Dennis Laogan, the youngest congressman in the 17th Congress.

The former president was elected to the post after she garnered a total of 184 affirmative votes, making her the 21st leader of the lower house and the first woman to hold the position. Only 12 lawmakers abstained from the voting.

The House’s special session, which was presided by Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya Jr., was held immediately after the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Malacañang, for its part, said it is ‘ready’ to work with the chosen leader of the lower chamber, pointing out the harmonious relationship between Duterte and the new House Speaker.

Arroyo spent nearly four years of hospital arrest due to the plunder charges lodged against her in connection with the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds. It was in July 2016, shortly after Duterte become the country’s chief executive, when the Supreme Court (SC) acquitted Arroyo of plunder.

“We have had very good relations with Speaker Arroyo. She was one of the staunchest supporters of the President during elections,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday, adding that Duterte and Arroyo share the same political agenda.

In October 2017, Arroyo become a member of the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to consolidate support for Duterte.

Arroyo earlier served as a deputy speaker for Alvarez, however, she was removed from her post as she did not vote in favor of a proposal to reimpose the controversial death penalty bill.