Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is new Speaker, House members say

Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the new leader of the House of Representatives, congressmen confirmed on Monday.

The lawmakers made the clarification after erstwhile Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez presided the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte despite Arroyo's oath-taking.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Surigao Del Sur Representative Prospero Pichay Jr. said it was Alvarez's request to let him preside the SONA.

"The Speaker requested that he be allowed to preside today and then the President said, 'Okay, we will talk to the newly-elected Speaker'. The request of the former Speaker is for him to be allowed to preside," Pichay said.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez gave the same information.

"There was an appeal na status quo na lang muna kasi kung magma-matigas yung isa, walang Speaker sa SONA. Mawawalan ng SONA," he said.

Arroyo took her oath as the new Speaker on Monday amid reports of an ouster plot against Alvarez.

She was seen swearing into office before Ang Kabuhayan party-list Representative Dennis Laogan, the youngest member of the House.

Her installation as Speaker came following what appeared to be a voting among the House members.

Earlier in the day, the House's morning session was abruptly suspended without the supposed plan to oust Alvarez happening.

In the afternoon, Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya stood up and explained that the earlier suspension of the morning session should not have been considered as he objected to it.

But as Andaya was speaking, his microphone was turned off.

The House's audio system remained turned off all throughout the supposed voting, and it was not immediately clear among the members of the media whether Arroyo indeed took her oath.

Alvarez even welcomed Duterte to the House complex for his SONA, and sat beside Senate President Vicente Sotto III while the chief executive was delivering his speech.

Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro said the changing of the leadership is but part of the democratic exercise of an institution.

"Kahit saang political institution, palaging nagkakaroon ng ganyan especially if not everybody is happy or satisfied the way it is run. Pero that is part of our democratic exercise," he said.

A special session will be held to formalize Arroyo's installation as new Speaker, Suarez said. —NB, GMA News