MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is staying away from the intense fight among administration allies aspiring to succeed her in the incoming 18th Congress, which convenes on July 22.
“I am not endorsing (anyone),” she has told reporters.
She is a member of the ruling PDP-Laban party, which has three speakership aspirants – reelected Reps. Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque, Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte and Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga.
Lakas, the ruling party during the Arroyo administration, has one candidate for speaker in incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Outgoing minority leader and incoming Quezon governor Danilo Suarez said he believes that Romualdez “is the personal choice of Speaker GMA to occupy her post in the next Congress.”
“If she is made to choose, I have no doubt that she will choose her former partymate Congressman Martin. We have been together for many years in Lakas,” he said.
Suarez also said Romualdez would handily win the speakership fight if President Duterte and his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte do not meddle in the election of speaker.
He noted that the Dutertes have repeatedly assured House members that they would not endorse any aspirant.
Suarez will not be in the House when the chamber elects its officers on July 22. But three members of his family – two elected from legislative districts and one party-list representative – will be there to vote for Romualdez.
Suarez belongs to Lakas, which the incoming Leyte congressman heads as president.
Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Arroyo’s “policy direction to do away with unnecessary investigations in aid of legislation enabled the House to pass all of President Duterte’s legislative agenda in less than a year.”
“We had 744 resolutions for inquiry in aid of legislation. Only 14 investigations were allowed. So we virtually had a suspension, a moratorium on inquiries so we could focus on legislation,” he said.?He said his former economics teacher practiced “management by sitting – she sat in all the committees to make sure differences were settled so that the bills were passed on time.”
Deputy speaker Rep. Sharon Garin of party-list AAMBIS OWA said Arroyo’s “exceptional work ethic enabled us to do our job with speed, dedication and resolve.”?“Under GMA, we passed more than 250 laws. We have achieved a lot. You could see the performance. Everybody was trying to be at par with Speaker GMA, that’s enough motivation for you to work and study as hard as she does,” she said.