Gatchalian on speakership row: ‘Majority has spoken’

“The majority has spoken.”

This was how Senator Sherwin Gatchalian described the sudden change in the House leadership where former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unseated Pantaleon Alvarez.

Gatchalian said the squabble in the House last Monday was part of democracy, citing the 184 votes that favored of Arroyo.

“It’s part of our democracy, and the majority has spoken and they want a new leadership in the House. Nangyayari naman ‘yan (It really happens),” he told CNN Philippines on Thursday.

Gatchalian also expressed optimism on possible economic reforms citing Arroyo’s expertise in economics.

He said previous discussions in the House mostly revolved around the war on illegal drugs and criminality.

“[There’s] a lot of political talk during the former speaker, but now I think the shift would be on the economic reform. I think we need that, moving forward,” the Senator said.

He also praised the President’s recent State of the Nation Address (Sona), which discussed moves on how to improve the country’s business climate.

“The Sona for me is the most balanced Sona by the President after two years of his administration. He talked about a lot of economic reforms,” Gatchalian said.

The leadership row caught Congress by surprise as it happened just minutes before the President’s Sona.  /muf

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