Gloria Arroyo named chair of House poverty alleviation committee

Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been named the chairperson of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation.

The motion to put Arroyo—who now represents Pampanga's 2nd District—in the role was made by House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos.

Also on Tuesday, the House Majority bloc elected the following lawmakers as members of the House contingent for the Commission on Appointments (CA), the panel of House and Senate members that evaluates and approves or rejects Presidential appointments:

• Pangasinan Representative Ramon N. Guico, Jr. (Head of House CA contingent)
• Butuan Representative Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II
• Isabela Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano
• Cavite Representative Lani Mercado Revilla
• Camiguin Representative Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo
• Laguna Representative Benjamin C. Agarao, Jr.
• Ako Bicol Representative Alfredo A. Garbin

In addition, the following lawmakers were elected to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, which resolves poll protests post-proclamation:

• San Juan Representative Ysabel Maria J. Zamora
• Sulu Representative Munir N. Arbison, Jr. and
• Bulacan Representative Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica

Arroyo served as Senior Deputy Speaker in the 19th Congress under Speaker Martin Romualdez until she was demoted to deputy speaker in May 2023. A day after her relegation, she released a statement denying that she was plotting Romualdez's ouster. She was then removed as deputy speaker in November that year. 

Two years later, Arroyo and Romualdez seem to be on good terms, with her being among the 269 lawmakers voting for his reelection as speaker. — BM, GMA Integrated News