Arroyo, Alvarez vow to ‘continue good relationship’

WORKING TOGETHER. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez met for the first time on Wednesday (July 25) since the leadership shakeup in the lower chamber. Arroyo said that she and Alvarez vowed to “continue our good relationship with each other.” (Photo courtesy of the Office of Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales via PNA)

MANILA — Newly-elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday met for the first time following a leadership shakeup at the House of Representatives.

The meeting at Alvarez’s office came two days after Arroyo’s ascension to the speakership.

Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales said it was Arroyo who initiated the meeting with her predecessor.

Arroyo, in a separate media interview, said she and Alvarez are in good terms and both vowed to “continue our good relationship with each other.”

Arroyo was elected as the new House Speaker after getting a total of 184 votes. Only 12 lawmakers abstained from voting.

The lower chamber held a special session immediately after President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address on Monday to formally install Arroyo as its new head.