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Duterte faces two house speakers in lockdown meeting

A backroom meeting was arranged at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, minutes before the third State of the Nation Address of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, to sort out the standoff between Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the House speakership.

Duterte spoke to the former president and Alvarez “one after the other,” Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go told reporters.

The backroom meeting reportedly sought to discuss who would seat beside Duterte at the rostrum. The last minute changes in the house speakership caused one hour and 15 minutes delay to the event.

Arroyo, who had already taken her oath when the president arrived at the Batasang Pambansa, becomes the first female House speaker, after reportedly securing enough votes from the members of the lower chamber.

On July 23, a manifesto was being circulated among members of the House of Representatives to oust Alvarez.

The manifesto sought support to replace Alvarez by Macapagal-Arroyo in order  “to support the Administration with a pro-active legislative agenda that will safeguard the nation’s economic growth and secure the safety of our people”.

The manifesto also stressed that Macapagal-Arroyo’s “experience, competence, sobriety, steady and unifying leadership” will help her become an effective House speaker.

 

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