Arroyo, Ungab out as deputy speakers in latest House revamp
The House of Representatives on Tuesday stripped former President and Pampanga lawmaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab of their positions as deputy speakers after they failed to sign a resolution defending the institution from “scurrilous attacks.”
‘’This decision stems from the fact that out of the nine Deputy Speakers, only Deputy Speakers Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab chose not to sign a pivotal House resolution sponsored by the entire leadership,’’ House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said in a statement.
The House plenary approved the motion made by House Deputy Majority Leader Ramon Nolasco Jr. to remove Arroyo and Ungab
This is the second time Arroyo was demoted this year — the first was in May when she was first removed as Senior Deputy Speaker. After her demotion then to Deputy Speaker, Arroyo confirmed that she “learned that there were reports that I was suspected of plotting a ‘coup’ against Speaker Romualdez”— an accusation that she flatly denied.
Arroyo and Ungab were replaced by Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano and Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Balindong, respectively.
In a statement, Ungab accepted the decision.
“I have been in Congress long enough to understand the dynamics and interpersonal relations among its members…. I accept my fate without any rancor nor bitterness,” he said.
“Despite my removal, I remain supportive of this administration, believing in its program of government, as I have also helped in the campaign last year, in the belief that it can bring a better hope and future for the Filipino people,” the Davao solon added.
Earlier in the day, Arroyo said she is still out of the country in explaining her failure to sign the resolution as she renewed her support for Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“I’m currently out of the country. However, as I always said, I continue to support the leadership of Speaker Romualdez,” Arroyo said in a brief statement.
Dalipe said the House resolution defending the integrity and honor of the institution and supporting the leadership of Romualdez amid attacks over their decision to scrap certain confidential and intelligence funds was “of paramount importance.”
“It manifested the collective intention of the House leadership to rise in unison in defense of the institution. This resolution was a response to certain quarters that have recently levied criticisms and scurrilous attacks against the House and its leadership,’’ he said.
On Monday, Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. named former President Rodrigo Duterte as the person behind the “malicious attacks” against the House of Representatives.
Gonzales then promptly resigned from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) that is led by Duterte. (See related story below)
As this developed, members of the Makabayan bloc filed a resolution on Tuesday calling on the House of Representatives to condemn Duterte for his alleged “fake news peddling, baseless red-tagging, and grave threats” against ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.
House Resolution 1428 also called on the Lower Chamber to urge the National Telecommunications Commission to investigate the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for possible violation of media and journalism standards and existing laws.
The bloc said Duterte made the threatening remarks during his program aired by SMNI on Oct. 11, 2023.
The resolution said Castro was also tagged a member of the New People’s Army without any proof.
Duterte made the remarks after the House realigned P650 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education both headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The resolution that aside from airing the program, SMNI posted the video on its social media accounts. It has since removed the video.
“The SMNI, its shows and hosts have repeatedly engaged in these acts of dissemination of fake news and malicious red-tagging. SMNI habitually engages in the reporting as news of misleading claims and biased opinions, deliberately disseminating false information, willful misrepresentation, wild accusations, and red-tagging against the opposition, critics, and officials of the government, in violation of the terms of its legislative franchise and to the detriment of public interest.”
Castro earlier filed a grave threat complaint against Duterte.
Castro cited the following statements made by the former leader in his SMNI program which went, “Kayong mga komunista ang gusto kong patayin. Sabi ko sa kanya [Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter], magprangka ka na lang. Itong intelligence fund na ito gagamitin ko para sa utak ng mga Pilipino kasi ito ang target ko, kayong mga komunista andiyan sa Congress. Prangkahin mo na ‘yan si France Castro.’”
(“It’s you communists who I want to kill. I told her (Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter), be frank. Say I will use this intelligence fund for the mental development of Filipinos because my targets are you communists there in Congress. Be frank with France Castro.”)
It was the first criminal complaint filed against Duterte since he left office.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organization of national parliaments from 180 countries — including the Philippines — earlier called for speedy action on Castro’s case.
“The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is appalled that the former President of the Philippines directly threatened on air the life of a member of parliament,” the group said.