Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday dismissed speculation that she wanted to be prime minister in a federal system of government, calling it black propaganda.
“The proposed constitution provides for a presidential, federal [system], doesn’t it? That’s black propaganda,” Arroyo said in an interview in Dinalupihan town.
Arroyo went Dinalupihan town, in Bataan and Sasmuan in Pampanga Friday for relief operations in areas hit by heavy flooding.
Arroyo’s statement was a reaction to the claim of her critics that she would be a prime minister under a federal set up being pushed by the Duterte administration.
The House committee on constitutional amendments has been working on the proposed federal-presidential form of government. This as the Consultative Committee finalized its draft federal constitution, which has already been submitted to Congress and Malacañang.
Arroyo said she has yet to read the draft being prepared by the House constitutional amendments committee.
The Con-Com’s draft proposal does not include a provision on the election of a prime minister.
All presidents since Fidel V. Ramos had called for Charter change but failed.
Arroyo, who was President for nine years, formed a consultative commission to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution, but nothing came of the efforts amid fears that the exercise would lead to term extensions.
Acting Majority Leader and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro said Friday the House will elect new leaders next week after Arroyo’s election.
Among the positions up for grabs are those of the Majority and Minority leaders.
Castro said he is merely performing the duties of the Majority leader until the House elects a new one.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Antonino, who filed the motion to declare all seats vacant for the position of Speaker on Monday, said the lawmakers who ousted former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, believed Arroyo was the best choice.
“There were a number of people who are very crucial to the process, who really helped, and who really showed that they supported this move,” Antonino said.
“So it was very hard to discuss the internal conversations that we’re having in the majority right now, but I’m sure the best candidate will be decided upon,” she added.
Antonino and Castro also affirmed that House Resolution 2025, which enters into the records the proceedings of July 23 in which Arroyo was elected, was approved by a majority vote.
“Whatever they say, so long as it is approved by the majority and the House members, there is no impediment to the validity of the election of Speaker Arroyo,” Castro said.
Antonino added the resolution was simply a matter of ensuring that the records of the House accurately reflected the July 23 election.
“Putting in this resolution was more for us a matter of housekeeping to make sure that our official [House] Journal was up-to-date with what happened, with what transpired on the floor in our session to elect Speaker Arroyo,” Antonino said.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas earlier questioned the adoption of HR 2025 and said he was still the majority leader even though Alvarez was ousted.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III on Friday said he was ready to offer Arroyo a high-ranking position in the ruling PDP-Laban following her ascension to the top House post.
“Her position is high, so it’s a good strategy that the party members who have high positions in government are given a corresponding high-ranking position in the party,” Pimentel said in Filipino on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali program.