Manila: Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been chosen by members of the House of Representatives to be Speaker, ousting Pantaleon Alvarez who had been busy with the federalism efforts.
In a vote among House members on Monday, Arroyo, 71, and a former president of the country for nine years until 2010, edged out Alvarez, a known political ally of incumbent leader President Rodrigo Duterte.
Arroyo, a former economics professor credited for keeping the country economically afloat during a difficult period, took her oath of office at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The same chamber was also the site of Duterte’s annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Rumours over the ouster of Alvarez had been circulating for months amid his discord with fellow lawmakers over the subject of federalism.
Arroyo was also known to be close to Duterte.
Alvarez, the erstwhile House Speaker had been at odds with the Senate on how to go about the transition to federalism.
Prior to the ouster, the presidential palace said it had no hand in the replacement of Alvarez with Arroyo.
“It is clear that the leadership of the House is an internal thing and the Palace won’t interfere,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview aired by Radyo Inquirer.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III welcomed the assumption of Arroyo to the speakership.
Sotto said with Arroyo at the helm of the more than 300-member lower chamber, it would be easier for the House to pursue the government’s legislative agenda.
“It would be easier for the Senate to work with Congressman Arroyo,” he said.
Arroyo had led the Philippines as President in 2001 with the ouster of then President Joseph Estrada. She was the elected vice president at that time.
In 2004, she was elected President but had confronted corruption allegations hurled against her husband, Mike Arroyo.
In 2011, she faced a number of corruption allegations, including pocketing millions of intelligence funds allotted for the armed forces through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and funds for emergency repatriation of overseas Filipino workers.
She was elected to represent her congressional district in Pampanga despite being unable to campaign as she was in detention.
In 2017 she was acquitted of all the charges hurled against her.
