The attempt to oust Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday aborted the scheduled ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in time for the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte, prompting the House of Representatives to adjourn its session.
In other developments:
• President Duterte said he will sign the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 48 hours.
“I will read it before signing it because you might have inserted something in it,” he said.
• Malacañang expressed disappointment after the House failed to ratify the consolidated version of the Bangsamoro Organic Law hours before President Duterte’s third Sona.
Duterte was supposed to sign the bill into law before delivering his speech at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
• Senate President Vicente Sotto III expressed hope that the House could ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law today, Tuesday, after it adjourned on Monday without ratifying the proposed measure that aims to bring peace in Mindanao.
Sources said the leaders of various influential political parties, the Nacionalista Party, the National Unity Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition consolidated their forces to unseat Alvarez and install former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new Speaker.
But the planned ouster fizzled out after his camp, a House source said, reportedly made a phone call to Special Assistant to the President Bong Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, informing the Speaker that the President did not give any “marching orders” on the matter.
The President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was allegedly behind the Alvarez ouster plot, one of the sources claimed. Duterte-Carpio tore into Alvarez after he accused her of being part of the political opposition and said he had the power to impeach her father. But Alvarez denied the allegations.
During the opening of the Monday session, Alvarez presided over the session attended by 271 lawmakers.
Alvarez managed to deliver his opening speech, which mentioned the House leadership’s effort to push for the Duterte administration’s federalism, as well as the adoption of several resolutions, including the one on convening the House and the Senate into a joint session for the Sona of the President.
The session then was adjourned at 1 pm after at least 140 lawmakers attended a caucus with majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, where they were reportedly asked to continue supporting the leadership of Alvarez.
When the session resumed with Garcia as presiding speaker, Pampanga Rep. Juan Paolo Bondoc moved for the adjournment of the session after being suspended for about an hour.
Garcia approved the motion despite objection from Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. It was not clear why Andaya, former Budget secretary of Arroyo, tried to object.