Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will reportedly be stripped of her post as Deputy Speaker of the House, Politiko.com.ph has learned.
A Politiskooper said Arroyo, who is serving her third-straight and final term as Pampanga representative, has come into conflict again with the House leadership just six months after she was demoted and lost her senior title.
Politiskooper said Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano was among the names being considered to fill in the anticipated vacancy in the Deputy Speaker post.
Albano served as the boss of the state-owned Radio Philippines Network (RPN) during the Arroyo administration before it was partially privatized.
Arroyo has reportedly refused to join the House leadership in condemning former President Rodrigo Duterte who accused Congress of being the most rotten institution in the country.
“Mag-liquidation tayo and you will find out what is the most rotten institution dito, you will find out its Congress,” said Duterte in a TV interview last month.
The House of Representatives issued a letter from the Commission on Audit last month which cleared the chamber’s members of of any suspension, notice of disallowance, or notice of charge.
Arroyo is a staunch ally of Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Last May, Arroyo lost her senior status ostensibly “to unburden her of the heavy load required from the position.” she was replaced as Senior Deputy Speaker by her Cabalen and ally, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.
Arroyo had previously been kicked out as Deputy Speaker for refusing to align with the leadership stand.
In March 2017, then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez removed Arroyo as Deputy Speaker in line with his threat to remove all House leaders who would vote against the bill on death penalty.
A year later, Alvarez was ousted as Speaker in a sudden and forceful mutiny led by Arroyo, with the support of Sara.
