(Eagle News) — Several lawmakers on Tuesday, July 24, slammed Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s election as Speaker, with some calling her a “sham Speaker” and “corrupt.”
“Hindi porke babae na nasa poder ay susuportahan na ng kababaihan. Hindi pwedeng i-recycle ang mga abusado sa kapangyarihan,” Gabriela Women’s Party Reps. Arlene Brosas and Emmi De Jesus said in a statement.
According to the militant lawmakers, “Gabriela Women’s Party will never forget the 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killing, 206 victims of enforced disappearances, more than 2,000 cases of illegal arrests, and thousands of forced evacuation during the nine-year presidency of Gloria Arroyo.”
They said they would never tolerate “corrupt” people in power, even if she was a woman.
For Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate, Arroyo is a “sham speaker” and the “primary proponent of opening up our economy to foreigners through Charter change.”
He said the people “are the losers” in Arroyo’s election.
“Sa pagpapalit ng liderato ng Kamara mula ay Speaker Alvarez patungo kay Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay makikita na mas titindi pa ang atake sa kabuhayan ng mamamayan tulad ng sa TRAIN Law,” he added, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
Senator Grace Poe, who has accused Arroyo of cheating in the 2004 elections where her father, actor Fernando Poe, ran but lost, for her part, warned the public of the new Speaker possibly rising at the top of the government hierarchy.
“Maghanda nalang kayo dahil pag nirailroad ang (Charter Change) at gawing parliamentary form of government, baka patas sila ng kapangyarihan sa Pangulo o siya na magtake over as Prime Minister,” the senator said. With a report from Meanne Corvera