Arroyo denies reports First Lady ‘gave blessings to House coup’

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday refuted once again the allegations of staging a coup against House Speaker Martin Romualdez as she slammed reports that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos had its “blessings.”

In a Facebook post, Arroyo addressed what she called “pathetic rumors,” dragging Araneta-Marcos into the “political fantasy of a House coup.”

“A report is going around that I was ‘duped’ by a congresswoman into thinking that the alleged House coup had the blessings of the First Lady. I am truly sorry that she should even be dragged into this political fantasy of a House coup – it is disrespectful to her and to her intelligence,” she wrote.

“Whoever is spreading these pathetic rumors are the ones duping the Filipino people, and they should now move on to the serious business of making positive contributions to national progress,” she added.

Last May 18, Arroyo broke her silence and denied the allegations, reiterating her support for Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as one of her goals.

Romualdez also responded to the rumors saying that the House remains in order and focuses on “more urgent matters,” while Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto said that the issue between two House leaders was just a temporary political rift and will eventually pass.

In the same statement, Arroyo further noted that “every politician worth his or her salt would know that in the Philippines, no House coup can ever succeed without the consent of the President.”

“I made a humble contribution to joining forces that became the UniTeam, and the resulting supermajority in the House is a major force for delivering our President’s agenda. Thus, I would never take any action to destroy it,” she said.

Arroyo also clarified that she did not have any conversations in the country or abroad “with any congressman or congresswoman, or any other politician active or retired, to plot, support, encourage or participate in any way in any alleged House coup.”

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JPV