Arroyo still supports Duterte administration amid her ouster as deputy speaker

MANILA–Despite being ousted as Deputy Speaker at the House of Representatives, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday committed to support the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement, Arroyo said that while she supports President Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the contentious measure reviving the death penalty requires a conscience vote and the “deepest of personal convictions”.

”The issue of the death penalty is unlike any other, in that it touches the core of each person’s fundamental view of human life,” Arroyo said as she justified her “no” vote on the death penalty bill.

Arroyo expressed gratitude to the President for understanding her stance on the issue. She likewise thanked Alvarez for the “honor of having served as Deputy Speaker” in the lower chamber.

”As a plain Congresswoman I will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez,” she added.

Alvarez followed through with his hardline policy of stripping anti-death penalty lawmakers of their leadership titles as Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas declared vacant the posts of Arroyo and eleven other committee chairmen who voted against the death penalty bill.

Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, who was removed from her chairmanship of the committee on civil service and professional regulation, said she was already prepared for such move since the Speaker already declared his policy last month.

“At the end of the day its your conviction. Kung anong pinapaniwalalan mo. Yun lang ang importante. Nakapsyche na utak ko for that,” Santos-Recto said.

Bayan Muna Rep.Carlos Isagani Zarate stood by his decision against the “anti-poor death penalty bill” despite losing his post as natural resources committee chair.

Zarate, however, slammedThe House leadership for “railroading” the bill’s passage and for resorting to “arm-twisting” strategies.

“We in Bayan Muna and the Makabayan bloc will have to seriously assess the situation and discuss our next move,” Zarate added.

Other House leaders who were ousted from their committee chairmanships include: Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte chairing the committee on land use; Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao chairing the committee on people participation; Buhay Partylist Rep. Michael Velarde Jr. chairing the committee on overseas workers affairs; Amin Partylist Rep. Sitti-Djalia-Hataman chairing the committee on Muslim affairs; ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio chairing the committee on public information; and Gabriela Partylist Rep. Emmi De Jesus chairing the committee on poverty alleviation.

Committee on government reorganization chair Henedina Abad and Committee on women and gender equality chair Emmeline Aglipay-Villar who were absent during the third reading vote on the death penalty bill were also plucked from their posts.