(Eagle News) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday night formally stripped from their posts lawmakers with key positions who voted against the passage of the death penalty bill, including House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Along with Pampanga Rep. Arroyo, 11 other lawmakers holding chairmanship posts were removed from their positions after majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas moved to have their posts declared vacant.
The following committee chairmanships were declared vacant: civil service, chaired by Vilma Santos-Recto (LP, Batangas); Muslim affairs, Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman (PL, Anak Mindanao); environment and natural resources, Carlos Zarate (PL, Bayan Muna); overseas workers affairs, Mariano Michael Velarde (PL, Buhay); special committee on land use, Christopher Belmonte (LP, Quezon City); people’s participation, Arlene Bag-ao (LP, Dinagat Islands); poverty alleviation, Emmi de Jesus (PL, Gabriela); women and gender equality, Emmeline Aglipay-Villar (PL, DIWA); public information, Antonio Tinio basic education and culture; government reorganization, Henedina Abad (LP, Batanes) who was absent during the voting last March 7; and Evelina Escudero (NPC, Sorsogon) who was replaced by party mate Ramon Durano VI (NPC, Cebu).
Arroyo and the 11 other lawmakers seemed to have expected the move on Wednesday night.
The Pampanga lawmaker even had a press statement ready shortly after the proceedings.
In her statement, Arroyo said she would continue to support President Duterte and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez “as a plain congresswoman.”
“I thank the President for his expression of understanding late last year regarding my position on the issue. I also thank the Speaker for the honor of having served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,” she stated.
“It meant much to me. As a plain congresswoman I will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez,” Arroyo said.
“The issue of the death penalty is unlike any other, in that it touches the core of each person’s fundamental view of human life. I believe that the issue required a vote based solely on conscience and the deepest of personal convictions. Thus, despite my support for President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez, I voted against House Bill 4727,” Arroyo said in the statement.
It was during her presidency that the death penalty was abolished in 2006.
House Speaker Alvarez, however, earlier said that he had decided to put on hold for at least a month his plan to remove the anti-death penalty lawmakers from their key posts.
He said that this would be done after the House recess which starts Thursday and will end on May 1.
“It will be done, perhaps after the (congressional) break,” he told reporters earlier Wednesday.
“I won’t forget that because we asked the respective (administration-allied) parties to submit their nominees for the replacements,” he said.
Alvarez claimed there would be no special consideration, even for his former boss, Rep. Arroyo who had appointed him before as transportation secretary.
The House Speaker earlier said that Liberal party member Mindoro Occidental Rep. Josephine Sato, who sits in the Commission on Appointments (CA), would also have to be replaced.
Sato, however, said she would resist moves to remove her from her post, saying she represents her party in the CA.
But Alvarez said that he will ask LP leaders to nominate a replacement for Sato in the CA.
