Arroyo maintains support for Andaya amid rumored ouster plot

SASMUAN, PAMPANGA, Philippines — House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday belittled the reported ouster plot brewing against her ally, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., saying she would continue to support the Camarines Sur representative.

“I don’t know how many congressmen share that sentiment… From what I can see, the majority still support the incumbent,” Arroyo said in an interview during her visit to the coastal village of Batang 1st, here in Sasmuan.

While the Pampanga congresswoman maintained her support for Andaya, she said she would exercise democracy in the lower chamber and would not intervene on political matters.

“I’m only one vote. I’ll still vote for Nonoy… I exercise democracy. I’m very open-minded. I am not a very interventionist person in terms of political matters,” Arroyo added.

The camp of Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has been reportedly urging fellow lawmakers to oust his known political rival Andaya over the latter’s exposès on the 2019 national budget, which has supposedly derailed the passage of the expenditure program.

In a statement on Thursday, Andaya said he is willing to be relieved as the Majority Leader.

“To me this post is forced labor. Gusto ko na nga ma-relieve ng duties as Majority Leader noon pa (Even in the past, I already want to be relieved of my duties as Majority Leader),” he said.

“I will be the first to vote that I be relieved as Majority Leader… This job has tied me down in Manila when I should be focusing (on) Camarines Sur,” he added. /ee