House chooses replacements for Gloria, Vilma in leadership posts

The House of Representatives on Wednesday has chosen members who will fill the positions once held by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.

During the plenary session, House members elected Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica as deputy speaker for Central Luzon, a position once held by Macapagal-Arroyo.

Villarica, meanwhile, will be replaced by Isabela Rep. Ana Go.

House members also elected Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio "Marvey" Mariño as chairman of the Committee on Civil Service And Professional Regulation, replacing Santos-Recto.

Macapagal-Arroyo and Santos-Recto were among the 12 lawmakers who lost their positions last March 15.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez announced that those who vote against House Bill 4727, or the re-imposition of death penalty for drug-related offenses, will lose their chairmanship positions. — BAP, GMA News