Senators were generally “quizzical” on the election of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as House Speaker said Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday.
The House leadership row had caused the third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday to be delayed by more than an hour, with President Rodrigo Duterte even threatening to walk out.
READ: Duterte had threatened to walk out of own Sona – Sotto
“Maraming factors na pinaguusapan pero kanya kanyang thinking ‘yan. Ako, I [will] sum it all up by [saying] let’s wait and see,” Sotto said in an interview.
“I’m just trying to be very polite about it by saying that we want to know the agenda muna,” Sotto said when asked if Arroyo’s election as House Speaker was a prelude to her being the prime minister under a federal system.
Sotto however admitted that there were some senators who have raised questions on Arroyo’s election as House Speaker. But Sotto was quick to stress that “it’s none of their business”.
“I have not received any transmission from the House of any change of leadership,” Sotto said as he added that the House should settle their issues first. Kristine Anne Macasiray/INQUIRER.net intern /muf