PICTURES of our national leaders attending state visits, regional summits and other international events abroad usually show President Marcos Jr., his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga, who until recently was House senior deputy speaker (SDS).
These photos convey to the public the message of a good, stable working relationship among Filipino top officials, lending flesh to the 2022 election campaign slogan of the Unity Team of Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, for which both Martin and Gloria worked so hard to victory.
Little did we know that there is a brewing tempest in the House of Representatives, one that would also involve the President and the Vice President, for although the legislative branch is constitutionally an independent institution, we all know that Malacañang exerts great influence on the affairs of the House, including the position of speaker and other leadership posts.
‘It is unclear for now what these developments would bring for the Filipino masses, who can only watch and wait as the elephants in the field engage in a colossal fight.’
Many were surprised that before the session ended last Friday, a representative identified with Arroyo moved to declare her position vacant and nominated another GMA ally and congressman from Pampanga, Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, for the position of senior deputy speaker. Arroyo’s demotion and Gonzales’ election were over in a matter of seconds, triggering the start of an ordinary House reorganization, as the President would later call it.
While it is really the prerogative of the House, and that the position of SDS is closer to being honorific than actually requiring laborious work, GMA was clearly cut down to size, politically speaking. She immediately issued a statement explaining that her recent actions, such as bringing a group of House members to South Korea on official trip, had been misinterpreted by the leadership as a prelude to a coup. GMA denied trying to unseat Romualdez, saying she used to desire the position but backed out when it became clear that President Marcos was comfortable with his cousin as speaker of the House.
It is annoying to hear Rep. Manuel Dalipe and others saying that Arroyo was unseated to lessen her workload, and that Gonzales was actually helping his “kabalen” for accepting the post. These nonsensical, even insulting, remarks from legislators just show their shallowness — especially because two days after, Romualdez said that “occasional moves to destabilize the House should be nipped in the bud.”
The effort by Marcos to make light of the matter and side with Romualdez on what to him was just a normal House reorganization is an indication of where the Palace sentiments lie. The same interpretation applies on the equally dramatic, same-day resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte from the political party that launched the Unity Team, Lakas-CMD, which she even chairs. Romualdez leads this party as president and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. returned to his former post as chairman.
It is unclear for now what these developments would bring for the Filipino masses, who can only watch and wait as the elephants in the field engage in a colossal fight. Of course, we all hope that while they may be distracted from their official work because of these political intramurals, the distraction would not be so serious as to lessen or paralyze government service.
