Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo replaced as senior deputy speaker

Pampanga  2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was replaced as the House of Representatives’ senior deputy speaker to unburden her from the heavy load of her duties, Majority Floor Leader and Zamboanga 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe said.

Arroyo was replaced as senior deputy speaker during the session on Wednesday, and switched roles with a fellow Kapampangan, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr.

This means Arroyo will still be a deputy speaker, but Gonzales would take on the senior deputy speaker role.

“The House of Representatives has elected Deputy Speaker Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales, Jr. as Senior Deputy Speaker to unburden his cabalen, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, of the heavy load required from the position,” Dalipe said.

Arroyo’s office has not yet released a comment on the development.

A former House speaker during the 17th Congress, Arroyo has been a key fixture in several of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s foreign trips where incumbent House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was present.

There have been many criticisms as to why Romualdez and Arroyo were present in Marcos’ overseas trips, but the Chief Executive praised the former president for her guidance— calling her once as the delegation’s secret weapon.

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