MANILA, Philippines – Nagpapakita lamang umano na pinaghinalaan si Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na nagpaplanong patalsikin si Speaker Martin Romualdez, sa ginawang demotion laban sa dating pangulo.
“The title of senior deputy speaker is considered honorific but it is clothed with trust and respect befitting a former president and a former speaker of the House. Consequently, stripping GMA unceremoniously of such title carries with it loss of trust and respect bestowed to an ally,” sinabi ni Albay 1st District Rep. at Liberal Party president Edcel Lagman sa panayam ng CNN Philippines.
Kasabay ng sesyon noong Mayo 17, iniluklok si Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. na papalit kay Arroyo bilang senior deputy speaker.
Si Arroyo naman ay itinalaga bilang deputy speaker.
Ayon kay House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, si Gonzales ay inihalal upang mabawasan si Arroyo mula sa “heavy load required from the position.”
Kasunod nito ay pumutok ang usap-usapan na iniuugnay si Arroyo sa pagpaplanong patalsikin si Romualdez mula sa Speakership na kagyat namang itinanggi ng una.
Sa kabila nito, naniniwala si Lagman na dapat pa ring ipaliwanag ni Romualdez ang demotion ni Arroyo.
“I think there is a need for the speaker to say some more on this demotion and the reasons why the suspicion was made,” giit niya.
“I think the story has not ended and we must be given the accurate detailed facts of this upheaval.” RNT/JGC
