(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte gave Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez the assurance former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo was not after his post.
“Sabi ni ma’am, ‘Sabihin mo sa kaibigan mo na wala akong ambisyon maging Speaker. He can rest…,” the President said during a gathering for his 73rd birthday and Arroyo’s 71st birthday on Thursday.
Duterte, who was referring to Arroyo at that time, made the pronouncement after calling out Alvarez, who he said looked “gloomy.”
Several congressmen were going around the House to try to remove Alvarez as Speaker so Arroyo could assume the post, based on reports.
Arroyo was deputy speaker until Alvarez stripped her of her title because of her anti-death penalty stand.