The House of Representatives has relieved former president and now Pampanga lawmaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from her deputy speaker post after she "chose not to sign" a resolution seeking to uphold the honor and integrity of the lower chamber amid attacks and corruption allegations being leveled at it of another former president, Rodrigo Duterte.

Apart from Arroyo, the House also relieved Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab from the same post.

The expulsion of Arroyo and Ungab ensued after Cagayan Rep. Ramon Nolasco proposed to replace them with Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano and Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Balindong, respectively, which presiding deputy speaker Roberto Puno approved.

House majority leader Mannix Dalipe said the removal of Arroyo and Ungab from their posts was in response to the collective decision of the House over their non-participation to restore the chamber's reputation via House Resolution 1414 in the wake of Duterte's recent verbal attacks that tarnish the institution.

Out of nine deputy speakers, Dalipe said only Arroyo and Ungab "chose not to sign a pivotal House resolution," which was of paramount importance as "it manifested the collective intention of the House leadership to rise in unison in defense of the institution."

"By choosing not to sign the resolution, Deputy Speakers Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab have demonstrated that their perspectives differ from the collective stance of the leadership," Dalipe said.

HR 1414, which seeks to uphold the honor and integrity of the House, was adopted on Monday during the resumption of the second regular session of the 19th Congress after a month-long recess.

The House resumed its session with a fearless 10-minute speech from Speaker Martin Romualdez, who claimed he would not buckle down to critics who have blasted Congress for its handling of the issue of contentious confidential funds.

While no names were mentioned, Romualdez made the declaration some weeks after the House and its members were publicly called out by Duterte over the chamber's decision to strip his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, of P650 million in confidential funds in the 2024 budget.

Ungab, in a statement, said he accepted the House's decision and, considering his long tenure in Congress, he understands enough "the dynamics and interpersonal relations among its members."

"I accept my fate without any rancor nor bitterness. I leave the deputy speakership's position assured that I have performed my duties well, with the best intentions and great love for my country," Ungab said.

"I would like to thank all those who were instrumental in making my tenure as deputy speaker meaningful, memorable, and worthwhile."

Despite his expulsion, he claimed that he would remain supportive of the programs and projects of the Marcos administration.

Arroyo, currently out of the country, said in a brief statement released before she was expelled that she "continues to support the leadership of Speaker Romualdez."

Arroyo initially held the senior deputy speaker post, the second highest position in the House, before being replaced by another Pampanga lawmaker, Aurelio Gonzales. The House demoted Arroyo in May amid "coup" rumors against Romualdez.

Gonzales, who resigned on Monday from his national treasurer post in the once-ruling PDP-Laban, formerly chaired by the senior Duterte, verbally identified the former president as the person accountable for undermining and assaulting the distinguished and respected institution.

The House has been exchanging barbs with the ex-president over his claims that Congress is the "most rotten" institution in the country and that it has "hidden pork barrel."