Arroyo ‘thumbs-up’ after pro-Speaker move stirs buzz

GROUP SPIRIT The presence and gesture here of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have sent the House abuzz, given last weekend’s tensions with Vice President Sara Duterte. —Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Whenever Vice President Sara Duterte defied the House of Representatives by either snubbing its investigations or flouting its rules, observers also tended to look for her known key ally in the chamber: former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

But Arroyo’s body language had the House abuzz after the latest flareup of hostilities between Duterte and her critics.
Unlike in past crucial moments when Duterte faced a grilling, Arroyo was not by the Vice President’s side during Monday’s resumption of the inquiry into her alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Instead, Arroyo showed up later at the plenary hall rubbing elbows with Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Marcos Jr.’s son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.

READ: Speaker: VP Sara Duterte’s confession on slay plot demands accountability

This was shortly after the House leadership approved a resolution expressing support for the Speaker, three days following Duterte’s statement that she had hired a contract killer to assassinate Romualdez, President Marcos and first lady Liza Araneta Marcos if she herself is killed.

Arroyo joined the group photo of House members, giving the thumbs-up sign like several others.

At that very moment, Duterte was in another room at the Batasan Pambansa, watching the plenary photo-op on TV.

Still in ‘good relationship’

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, chair of one of the committee on good government, one of the panels investigating Duterte, said Arroyo’s presence “was important because she is a foundational force in Lakas (party) and it’s important to see the party is united during times when our institutions are under threat.”

‘“I’m certain that she supports Speaker Martin and the two of them still have a good relationship,’” said Zambales Rep. Jay Konghun.

For political scientist Jean Encinas-Franco of the University of the Philippines Diliman, it was probably political survival instinct kicking in.

“(Arroyo’s) presence in the plenary session yesterday is proof of that. She probably wants to disassociate herself with (Sara’s) threats to kill Marcos and (the first lady),” Franco said. “She probably thinks that Sara’s current actions and behavior would make it difficult to defend her.”

2023 rift

In May 2023, a rift blew wide open between Arroyo and Romualdez over allegations that she was plotting to oust him from the Speakership. This led to her removal as senior deputy speaker and, to many observers, a telling sign of the Marcos-Duterte election “Uniteam” heading for collapse.

A few days after Arroyo’s demotion, Duterte resigned from Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, which is led by Romualdez. Arroyo remains as the party’s chair emeritus.

Arroyo publicly defended Duterte during a hearing in August on the Office of the Vice Presidents proposed 2025 budget, when she questioned why the House committee on appropriations was practically doing the job of the Commission on Audit.

She also backed Duterte during good government committee hearing in September, saying the Vice President was there merely as a resource person and not a witness to be grilled.