COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros Occidental head Romeo Baldevarona lauded the unseating of then House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who was succeeded by former president and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).
Alvarez was ousted by his fellow congressmen Monday, July 23, just minutes before President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to deliver his third State of Nation Address.
Baldevarona recalled they would never forget what Alvarez did to the CHR, as he was responsible for pushing the controversial P1,000 budget for the agency last year.
He also said Alvarez needs to learn from the mistakes he made during his term as speaker of the House such as not having respect to his peers.
He said that Alvarez's fellow congressmen might have had enough of his actions since the ousted Speaker was known for pushing what he wants.
"He thinks he owns the Congress which I believe is the reason why his own allies turned their backs on him," Baldevarona added.
With the House leadership now under Arroyo, Baldevarona said he is expecting her true service for the Filipinos this time, despite the corruption charges hurled against her during her presidency.
For his part, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said Tuesday, July 24, that most of the senators are suspecting that the development was part of the strategy of Arroyo to perpetuate heels in power to be the prime minister of the country.
He said the situation in the House was already at the boiling point that's why GMA became a viable alternative.
“Considering that GMA has liability, she has plunder and corruption cases. That goes against the thrust of the present administration. His (Duterte) first thrust is on the campaign against illegal drugs, second is against corruption which the President is serious,” Ejercito pointed out.
"Having GMA as the number three most powerful person in the country will not look good in the thrust and image of the administration in his fight against graft and corruption considering that she is facing corruption charges,” he said, adding “that is my concern and likewise, more than half of the senate members do not trust GMA's ascension to the House. They felt that it's a scheme to perpetuate herself to become prime minister later on and the Senate will not allow that.”
Ejercito said they have agreed that until GMA is the Speaker, “we will not entertain any calls for the joint session for Charter Change. We are worried that she has aim and its part of the strategy to perpetuate herself to power of becoming a Prime Minister later on. We agreed that, unless we change the Speaker."
He said some of the senators, including him, fought the administration of GMA.
Ejercito also said he does not think the president has the knowledge of what had transpired. “He was ready to walk out because of the squabble. It did not look good.”