Behind the scenes: Why Alvarez kept seat next to Duterte in #SONA2018

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, right, bangs the gavel beside Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III before the start of Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon city, metropolitan Manila, Philippines Monday July 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Moments before President Rodrigo Duterte was to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, suspense and confusion gripped the nation with the kind of power struggle possibly never before seen in Philippine politics.

Former President-turned-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapal-Arroyo was being sworn in as new Speaker of the House of Representatives while an incumbent House leader, Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, was receiving Duterte at the back lobby of the Batasang Pambansa complex.

Thus, the pressing question emerged: Who gets to sit beside the President during the Sona – Alvarez or Arroyo?

A ranking official of the lower Chamber has recalled how Monday’s Sona predicament was resolved.

“As the new House Speaker, we wanted her [Arroyo] to escort the President,” House Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro told ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday.

Which apparently did not happen as Alvarez went on with Mr. Duterte into the presidential lounge, where other government officials, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, initially met.

But Mrs. Arroyo, after being hailed by fellow lawmakers at the House plenary as the new Speaker – despite the absence of the House Secretariat, Mace, and benefit of a sound system, proceeded to the presidential lounge, where she reportedly was not allowed to enter at first.

READ: With House sound system dead, Arroyo takes oath as new Speaker

When she entered the room, however, Castro said the President then immediately discussed the issue at hand with Arroyo and Alvarez – delaying Duterte’s Sona for more than an hour.

“I don’t believe that was valid. There was no sound, there was no Mace,” Castro said, quoting Alvarez.

“Reportedly, Speaker Gloria said that well, if Speaker Alvarez would not recognize the validity of what happened, she doesn’t mind allowing Alvarez to perform his duty at Sona,” he said, quoting Arroyo’s alleged reply.

Hence, Castro said Alvarez took his seat beside the President at the rostrum during the Sona as permitted by Arroyo since “he (Alvarez) would not recognize the validity of what happened.”

According to Castro, Alvarez was different in the way Arroyo related to House members. He said that unlike Alvarez, Arroyo was able to establish a strong relationship with people in Congress.

“Speaker Alvarez was a little distant from the members of the House. […] He did not develop the ability to sense the sentiment of the members,” the Deputy Speaker said.

Asked if Alvarez ever asked how other lawmakers were doing, Castro replied: “Never.”

On Monday night, after the Sona, Arroyo was formally elected as Speaker of the House with 184 votes.

She is the first former President and female lawmaker to assume the post in the history of the Philippines. /kga