Arroyo power grab?

Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was the beneficiary of the extraconstitutional Edsa 2 revolt that ousted the popularly elected President Joseph Estrada in 2001 attempted another power grab this time to become House Speaker.

In a stealthy move, Arroyo tried to take her oath as head of the chamber while Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was waiting outside the plenary hall for President Duterte who is scheduled to deliver his State of the Nation Address.

Later on in the night, her supporters again swore in Arroyo in an apparent illegal act since it was done using an old mace taken from the House archives.

Political analyst and Daily Tribune columnist Chito Avecilla said the House assembly of Mrs. Arroyo’s supporters was illegal.

“Any position that is not authorized by the rules is a power grab,” Avecilla said.

“It is not enough that you have the number, proper procedures should be followed,” he added.

As Duterte arrived on a helicopter in the heavily secured congressional complex, Arroyo, backed by dozens of allied legislators, took the main seat in the center stage of the House’s plenary hall in a sign that she was taking over the post of Speaker.

Arroyo’s nine year administration from 2001 to 2010 was marked with what was termed as transactional politics in which she obtains concessions from legislators and government officials by promising something in return.

A House insider said President Duterte almost walked out after being upset by Arroyo’s takeover attempt.

The Daily Tribune source said that Mr. Duterte was angered by Arroyo’s act since it “upstaged the SoNA and sidetracked the BBL.”

“If you won’t maintain the status quo then I’m walking out,” the source quoted the President as saying when he met with Arroyo and her group.

“I want Bebot Alvarez at my side,” Mr. Duterte was quoted as saying.

The Blue Guards or the ceremonial escorts of the President were shown on television withdrawing from the House session hall which the source said was the result of Mr. Duterte’s threat to forego the SoNA and walkout.

Mr. Duterte’s escorts, however, later returned after a few minutes.

Television shots also showed the President, apparently upset, pointing at someone in the holding area where members of his family were gathered after the SoNA.

Alvarez then took the seat of the Speaker at the rostrum. It was Alvarez, along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who called to order the joint session of Congress.

Mr. Duterte also acknowledged Alvarez as the Speaker at the start of his speech.

The leadership impasse delayed Mr. Duterte’s speech for more than 1 hour. Arroyo tried to take her oath at around 3:49 p.m., minutes before the scheduled 4 p.m. SoNA of the President and while the House was not yet on official session. She was surrounded by her apparent supporters.

Arroyo tried to speak from the stage during the dramatic standoff but her microphone was turned off.

She tried to yell, apparently to explain what was happening, but later stepped away from the stage, waving at the crowd.

Alvarez, along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, fetched Duterte and led the visibly confused leader to a holding room as the dispute over House leadership unfolded in the chamber, which was packed with diplomats, legislators and other dignitaries for Duterte’s speech.

The leadership row earlier prevented the House from ratifying a Muslim autonomy deal that many hope will settle one of Asia’s longest-raging Muslim separatist rebellion.

Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo said the installation of Arroyo as Speaker was maceless and no roll call was held, so its validity could be questioned.

“It’s unprecedented. I don’t recall it ever happening in the last 25 years or since the Congress was established that we’ve had a change in leadership or a session held not without any prior notice,” Quimbo said.

The ouster move against Alvarez came after a manifesto of support to endorse Arroyo’s speakership bid circulated Monday morning.

Duterte’s allies said the ouster move against Alvarez has the support of the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who earlier had a spat with Alvarez.

The Alvarez and Duterte-Carpio conflict allegedly started last February when the Davao City mayor formed the regional political party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

A tense situation was palpable in the session hall as lawmakers from both camps worked to get the needed 147 votes to secure the position for Alvarez or unseat him and elect Arroyo.

Talks about the ouster of Alvarez had been rife in recent months, particularly after his public rift with the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

In the end, it was Alvarez who sat to the president’s left during the joint session.

Alvarez is not giving up the speakership without a fight as he said that with what transpired yesterday he seems to be still the Speaker.

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