Bongbong Marcos: Arroyo’s demotion part of House reorganization

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday defended the decision of the House of Representatives to demote Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the deputy speaker, downplaying the move as just part of the “reorganization.”

Marcos said reorganizations are just part of the processes in the government, which he said “comes once in a while,” adding that it is the House Speaker’s prerogative to organize the ranks in the lower chamber of Congress.

“If you have been in government long enough, you’ll have seen many of this. This is just part of the reorganization, and the Speaker, it’s his prerogative as to how he feels the House should be organized,” he said in an interview in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

He said the public should not “read too much into” Arroyo’s demotion.

“Nangyayari talaga ‘yan. I don’t think not any of us know what it all means, or where the chips will fall after this reorganization, but I think we should also be careful not to read too much into it. I really see it as just a run of the mill, it comes once in a while, na reorganization na ginagawa sa House,” Marcos said.

(It just happens. The reorganization, I really see it as just a run-of-the-mill. It comes once in a while.)

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