Pimentel asks PDP-Laban to rally behind Alvarez

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) President and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday had called upon the members of their party to rally behind Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez amid the power struggle in the House of Representatives.

“I’m calling upon my PDP-Laban party mates to rally behind the speaker because he is the secretary-general of the party,” Pimentel said when asked about the power struggle in the Lower House.

However, Alvarez lost to former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the power struggle at the House of Representatives.

Arroyo took her oath as new Speaker of the House of Representatives minutes before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

READ: Arroyo takes oath as new Speaker

Plots to oust Alvarez before the President’s Sona surfaced on Sunday night.

Pimentel, the former Senate president, had hoped the House would resolve the issue as soon as possible, fearing it will affect legislative work.

“I think it has already affected the approval or the passage of the BBL bicam report,” he said.

“Any reorganization of any house of Congress will definitely affect the workload pending,” he added.

The lower chamber failed to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law, deviating from Malacañang plan for the Duterte to sign the measure before his Sona.   /vvp

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