Speaker Arroyo meets with Sara Duterte a week after 'coup'

Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday met with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in a hotel in Quezon City.

In a series of photos forward to reporters, Arroyo was seen to be having lunch with the Presidential daughter, along with some members of the House of Representatives.

LOOK: Speaker Arroyo had lunch with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, some House members at a hotel in QC. Photos c/o Arroyo's staff. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/61mLaxvCJ7

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) July 30, 2018

Lawmakers present during the meeting include Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles and Zamboanga Sibugay Representative Wilter "Sharky" Wee Palma.

Arroyo, who did not provide additional details, told reporters that her meeting with Duterte Carpio was "very nice and pleasant."

In what is described as a "coup," Arroyo was formally elected Speaker of the House on Monday — the day of President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address — replacing Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez.

Upon assuming position, she vowed to push for the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration in the House of Representatives.

The Davao City mayor, for her part, called Arroyo 'a strong leader.'

AKO BICOL party-list Representative Rodel Batocabe had said he believes that President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in the changing of the House leadership considering Sara's role in the development.

Sara reportedly called up some lawmakers to ask for support in ousting Alvarez and installing Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new Speaker, which Batocabe confirmed.

"I think it was floated around. Ang nakikita mo, siyempre, kapag ikaw ang anak ng Presidente, makikita mo alam ng Presidente ang ginagawa. Kung ayaw ng Presidente ang ginagawa, sasabihan niya," he said. —JST, GMA News