Alvarez sits at House rostrum during SONA

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was seen sitting beside Senate President Vicente Sotto III at the rostrum during President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

This, despite the apparent swearing in of Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new leader of the House of Representatives.

Despite Arroyo’s apparent swearing in as new Speaker, Alvarez sits beside Sotto at rostrum of the House. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/HrkIink4oJ

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) July 23, 2018

The Senate President and the House Speaker traditionally sit beside each other during the President's SONA.

Arroyo earlier appeared to have taken an oath at the rostrum in the House Plenary Hall, but none of the proceedings could be heard as the House audio system had apparently been turned off.

While this was happening, Alvarez, along with Sotto, welcomed Duterte at the House complex.

It was not immediately clear whether Arroyo had been installed as Speaker, and  Alvarez, removed from his post. — RSJ, GMA News