DAVAO Representative Karlo Nograles said the House row that ousted former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez would not have happened had Alvarez's allies not abruptly adjourned the plenary session in the morning of July 23.
Interviewed by the media on Tuesday, July 24, Nograles said the allies of the Alvarez knew for sure that there would be a motion to oust him as Speaker during the plenary session.
"Alam niyo, hindi sana mangyayari yung nagyari kung pinagpatuloy na lang yung pagbobotohan nung umaga. Nandun na yun e. Alam naman nilang magkakaron ng movement e. May magmomotion naman talaga. Alam nila yan, anticipated na nga nila," said Nograles.
Nograles, who was one of the congressmen who voted yes for the installation of Arroyo as Speaker of the House, said the coup plot against the Speaker did not happen overnight.
"Hindi naman ito mangyayari overnight. Alam naman natin that there's an ongoing clamor, sentiments that have been escalating kumbaga — nagdevelop," he said.
For Nograles, the attempt of the allies of Alvarez to abruptly adjourn the House proceedings to just to evade his imminent ouster triggered the majority's move.
"I think the trigger was when there was already a movement to declare the speaker's office vacant and then they cut it off," he said.
Nograles said majority of the congressmen felt that there was a need to reopen the session before the Sona as there were unfinished businesses: the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the change of leadership.
In an attempt to push through with the plan to replace Alvarez, members of the House of Representatives opened an informal session just an hour before the scheduled State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In the microphone-less and mace-less proceedings, they installed Arroyo as their new leader.
Arroyo took an oath and banged the gavel signaling that she has been declared as House Speaker but this was assailed by Alvarez's camp.
It was Alvarez who sat beside Duterte at the rostrum during the Sona.
To dismiss questions on the validity of Arroyo's win, the House held another proceedings after the Sona.
A total of 184 solons voted yes to declare Arroyo as Speaker while 12 abstained from the voting.
Nograles said the majority of the House will stand by their decision.
"There's nothing to correct. We stand by our position that the proceedings yesterday (Monday) was valid, legal and binding. Tapos na yun. Nagsalita na ang mayorya, nagsalita na ang Kongreso," he said.
"There's nothing to discuss. The matter has been resolved, there's a new speaker. Let's follow the new leader of the House," he added.
On the talks that it was presidential daughter Sara Duterte who called the congressmen and requested them to oust Alvarez, Nograles said "I cannot speak regarding that matter because I myself did not receive a call from Inday Sara."
PDP-Laban reorganization
With the new House leadership, Nograles believes that there will also be a reorganization of leaders in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Duterte's political party led by Alvarez.
Now that a new House Speaker is installed, it is unclear who will be the next majority leader and minority leader of the House.
The allies of Arroyo will also have to decide on who would be given committee chairmanships.
Minority leader Danilo Suarez said he will join the majority. This would mean that the minority group he led will be leaderless.
Suarez when interviewed said he will recommend Congressman Lito Atienza to be his successor.
Asked what will his position be under the Arroyo-led House, he said: "Kahit anong pusisyon basta maipasok lang yung aking mga programa."
There are talks however that Suarez will be the next majority leader, replacing Majority leader Rodolfo Fariñas. He did not confirm this.
Suarez said the minority bloc will write to Speaker Arroyo expressing their intention to maintain their status as minority party of the 17th congress, although most of them voted for Arroyo.
Under the rules, those who voted for the Speaker that won will automatically be part of the majority while those who abstained will be part of the minority group.
Asked why majority of the congressmen chose Arroyo, he said: "With due respect to the former speaker. We, majority of congressmen have seen the working habit of the former president. When she was president, she spend much outside of the palace. She's always out of town, inaugurating project, blessing new construction. She's always on top of the situation."
"Yung kaniyang nature of work na mabilis gusto niya productive lahat, I think the congress should brace themselves that [Arroyo] wants results immediately. Hndi yan patagal-tagal," he added.
Ako-Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin, also a member of the minority group, said "we are still the duly-constituted minority in the House of Representatives."
"We are still the minority that will do fiscalize and address all the major issues. Kami pa rin yung minority na pupuna kung ano yung panganagilangan ng ating mga kababayan at kami pa rin yung minority na pupuna kung ano yung hindi naayon sa konstitutsyon lalong lalo na pagdating sa mga batas na pinapasa dito sa kongreso," he said.
There are talks that the allies of Alvarez are likely to form their own minority bloc as some of them will not join the Arroyo leadership, among them are Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.
Alvarez and Fariñas have yet to confirm this. (SunStar Philippines)