Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas is questioning the resolution installing former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker of the House.
Why is Fariñas raising the issue when more than half of the 292 House members declared the position vacant and elected Arroyo as Speaker? Some members of the House who do not want to be identified said Fariñas is opposing Arroyo’s election because he was the de facto Speaker who exercised as much power and influence as Alvarez in major legislative measures and committee hearings.
Fariñas, the former House majority leader, was swept away in the swift downfall of Alvarez. The lower chamber had a tumultuous transition session on Wednesday. Fariñas was ruled out of order by the presiding officer Rep. Rodolfo Albano while he was vociferously voicing his outrage. Loyal supporters of Fariñas and Alvarez engaged the acting presiding officer in a shouting match when the microphones at the session hall were turned off. But as in any political gathering, the majority rules. The House will now vote for a new majority leader with Fariñas and Alvarez being pushed further to the fringes of House decision-making.
Alvarez, in a meeting with Speaker Arroyo, said he was ready to move on and work with his successor “for the sake of the nation.” Joining the majority coalition are those who voted for Arroyo, including party-list groups Alvarez treated as non-sequitur members of the House.
We cannot really blame Fariñas for his umbrage. He had a taste of power so long that it became difficult to accept being marginalized. But as a veteran politician, Fariñas should know there is no such thing as permanent power. He will know what it is like to be in the marginalized minority.
Still, the claim of Fariñas and Alvarez to be the minority bloc is being challenged by 12 Liberal Party members that they are the true minority. Arroyo defected to the PDP-Laban party of President Duterte. She might soon join the political party formed by Sara Duterte who is reportedly seeking a House seat in next year’s mid-term elections.
While Inday Sara’s new party has yet to be registered with the Commission on Elections, there are many members of the House who are already forming a line to join it. House Speaker Arroyo was one of the early ones to declare she would join Sara’s party. The president’s daughter is seen as the prime mover in the House putsch against Alvarez. She reportedly called House members to declare the position vacant and install GMA as House Speaker.
Mrs. Arroyo has a long relationship with the Dutertes of Davao starting in her campaign for the vice presidency and then the election for the highest post in the land after she had completed the remaining term of deposed President Erap Estrada who was convicted of plunder.
Alvarez and Fariñas are pushing for federalism in the draft Charter and together the proposed shelving the mid-term elections next year. This was what did them in. Members of the House do not trust the duo’s political agenda that would sideline many of them. And that was how events unfolded with majority of the House seizing the moment to call for a new leadership.
The new Speaker, meanwhile, said she was not in favor of Charter change but was still feeling her stand on federalism. In the Upper Chamber, the Senate made known it is also against Charter change and federalism. Senate President Tito Sotto said the Senate will vote separately from the House on the issue of Charter change.
