GMA maintains support for Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — Despite her ouster as House deputy speaker, former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has expressed what she describes as continuous support for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a statement, Arroyo said she has always supported Romualdez’s speakership as he was chosen by President Marcos for the post.

“There is always intrigue in politics, often petty. If some intriguers were able to convince Speaker Romualdez of the falsehood that I do not support his leadership in the House, then there is nothing I can do,” Arroyo said.

During the plenary session on Tuesday night, Arroyo and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab were replaced as deputy speakers by Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano and Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balidong, respectively.

According to House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Arroyo and Ungab were relieved from their posts because out of the nine deputy speakers who signed a “pivotal House resolution,” only the two did not sign House Resolution 1414.

Dalipe said HR 1414 is important as it manifests the collective intention of the House leadership to rise in unison in defense of the institution.

The resolution is also a manifestation of the House members’ support to Romualdez amid the attacks by former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was enraged by the chamber’s decision to remove the P650 million in confidential fund of his daugther Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

Arroyo explained that she was unable to sign HR 1414 because she was abroad during the signing on Monday.

“In any case, that resolution does not contain anything new for me, because I have always supported his leadership as Speaker,” she said.

But even as an ordinary congressman, Arroyo gave assurance that she would remain true to her word to the President that she would continue to support “his preferred man” for House speaker and that is Romualdez.

Arroyo said that from the time she learned that Marcos preferred Romualdez to lead the chamber, she supported him as speaker, and advised the President of this in writing.

She said she has never taken or supported any action to remove Romualdez from his post.

“In fact, I have