(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte “almost walked out” over what happened in the House of Representatives that eventually led to the ouster of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
This was according to Senate President Tito Sotto, who sent text messages to reporters on the change of leadership in the Lower Chamber on Monday, July 23, the day President Duterte held his State of the Nation Address.
“Inis si (Duterte). Hindi niya gusto yung nangyayari,” Sotto, who welcomed the President upon his arrival at the Batasang Pambansa, said.
“Bakit daw sinasabay sa SONA,” he added.
Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s election as the new Speaker came prior to the SONA, during an informal voting of lawmakers that took place after the Lower House’s session was abruptly terminated by allies of Alvarez on the same day.
This was even with Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., Arroyo’s then-budget secretary, opposing the motion to adjourn the session.
The President’s speech was reportedly delayed for over an hour due to the leadership issue, with reports saying he had to speak to both Arroyo and Alvarez separately.
It was, however, Alvarez who sat beside the President during his speech, something reserved for the Speaker, after the alleged talk.
Following the President’s SONA, though, 238 members of the House stayed on to formally install Arroyo as Speaker in a special session.
The mace, which serves as the Lower Chamber’s symbol of authority, was not in the session at one point, prompting Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Antonino to move to produce the same.
The session was suspended after presiding officer Andaya ordered the mace to be produced, but Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro moved to resume the session, noting that the mace was “merely symbolic.”
Over 100—184 lawmakers—voted for Arroyo to be Speaker, while 12 abstained.
Arroyo was deputy speaker of the House until she was removed from the position by Alvarez in March, after she voted against the death penalty bill. Meanne Corvera