Arroyo: No House coup plot Commits support to PBBM, Romualdez; disavows 'early politicking'

By Maricel Cruz

FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo doused speculations that there was more to her replacement as senior deputy speaker of the House of Representatives as she affirmed her commitment to support the legislative agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Mrs. Arroyo, who issued Wednesday evening a terse one-sentence statement that it was the prerogative of the House to replace her, explained in length Thursday her position.

“As I have learned during my three decades as a politician, such events are part and parcel of Philippine politics. Still, I do not want it to precipitate or intensify any tendencies towards early politicking. We are just barely a year into the administration of President Marcos, Jr., and it would be unfortunate if early politicking resulted in any dilution of the tremendous mandate that the UniTeam, led by our President, earned in the 2022 elections. After all, the President ran on the plat- form of unity,” she said. She said she learned of the election of her province-mate, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, as senior deputy speaker in her place on Wednesday.

‘My first reaction was that it is always the prerogative of the House to make changes in its leadership structure. Thus, I congratulate Dong, and I hope his new position will help him fulfill his mandate to represent our fellow Kapampangans,” she said.

Arroyo admitted that when President Marcos won, she wanted to aspire for the Speakership of the House.

“But it soon became apparent that he