THE change in leadership at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 23, caused a delay in President Rodrigo Duterte's third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Duterte arrived seven minutes before 4 p.m., the schedule for his Sona, but the unprecedented leadership change at the House of Representatives delayed the program.

Members of the House signed a manifesto to oust Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and replace him with former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo, the first former President to serve as House Speaker, was ousted in March 2017 as deputy speaker after she voted against the death penalty bill.

Alvarez's ouster and Arroyo's oath-taking as the new House Speaker happened just a few minutes before Duterte arrived at Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

It was Alvarez who welcomed Duterte. At that time, however, Arroyo had been sworn in as Speaker.

As of 4:55 p.m. Monday, Duterte was still in the lounge with Congress leaders. There was no update on what was being discussed in the holding room. (SunStar Philippines)