AFTER a delay of a little over an hour, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez called to order the Joint Session of Congress on Monday, July 23.

Alvarez took the seat of the Speaker at the rostrum despite the move an hour earlier by some lawmakers to oust him and install former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

At the start of his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Rodrigo Duterte also acknowledged Alvarez as the Speaker.

Some members of the House were earlier reported to have signed a manifesto removing Alvarez and replacing him with Arroyo.

Under Section 13 Rule III of the Rules of the House of Representatives, however, the position of Speaker may only be declared vacant through nominal voting by a majority vote of all the members.

Section 11 states that the Speaker shall be elected by a majority vote of all the members and the Secretary General shall record the vote of each member which shall be cast without explanation. (SunStar Philippines)