Arroyo maintains support for Romualdez after demotion

Former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday maintained her support for Speaker Martin Romualdez despite her demotion at the House of Representatives.

In a statement, Arroyo explained that she was unable to sign House Resolution No. 1414, the said reason why she was stripped of her deputy speaker title was because she was abroad when the resolution was signed.

"In any case, that Resolution does not contain anything new for me, because I have always supported his leadership as Speaker," she 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.

Arroyo stressed that from the time Romualdez was named by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s preference for Speaker, "I took the position that I will support him as Speaker."

She also reiterated that she had never joined any efforts to remove Romualdez from his post.

"In fact, I have publicly stated that I have given up any plans to aspire for the Speakership again, in this and any future Congress that I would have the honor to be a part of," she said.

"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," she added.

She continued: "But even as an ordinary Congressman, I will remain true to my word to President Marcos, Jr. – I will continue to support his preferred man for House Speaker, and that is Speaker Martin Romualdez. Having made myself clear, I think we should now move on to more pressing national concerns."

On Tuesday, the House leadership removed the deputy speaker title from Arroyo and Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab.

Arroyo and Ungab are both allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was criticized by lawmakers for tagging the lower chamber as the "most rotten organization."

For his part, Ungab said he accepts the decision of the House leadership to remove his title.

"I have been in Congress long enough to understand the dynamics and interpersonal relations among its members," he said in a separate statement.

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

Ungab, likewise, reiterated his support for Romualdez despite the removal of his title.

"Despite my removal, I remain supportive of this administration, believing in its program of government, as I have also helped in the campaign last year, in the belief that it can bring a better hope and future for the Filipino people," he said.

"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," he added.

Without directly mentioning Duterte's name, Romualdez resumed sessions at the House of Representatives, stressing that he would "stand and fight against anyone who scares us into following what they want."

He issued the remarks weeks after Duterte in a television interview publicly called out the chamber for its decision to strip his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, of a combined P650 million worth of confidential funds in the proposed national budget for next year.

The House leadership also condemned Duterte for threatening the life of ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro, whom he linked as part of the communist rebel group New People's Army.