Alvarez: Arroyo now an ally

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can expect better treatment now that she is back and has more allies in the House of Representatives.

Presumptive Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez on Friday said he considered Arroyo an ally in the coming 17th Congress.

“Well if [Arroyo’s] part of the majority, [then she’s] definitely an ally,” Alvarez said on Friday.

Arroyo’s political party the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) entered into an alliance with Alvarez’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to be part of the administration-led coalition for change.

Alvarez, who gained clout as the pick for Speaker of President Rodrigo Duterte, found the Supreme Court’s decision to “exonerate” Arroyo from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office plunder case an advantage for the Pampanga representative to finally perform her legislative duties.

He said Arroyo could finally serve her constituents after being freed from hospital detention at Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City for four years.

“Maganda pa rin yung nangyari para naman former President Gloria Arroyo can start serving her constituents in her district at least in her last term kasi naka dalawang terms na siya nasa kulungan siya. Hindi niya masyadong napagsilbihan ang kanyang distrito,” Alvarez said.

Asked about Arroyo’s possible appointment to head a congressional committee, possibly related to economics and trade, Alvarez said it would depend on incoming majority floor leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas.

The Supreme Court acquitted Arroyo of plunder when it granted her petition to dismiss her case involving the alleged misuse of P366 million state lottery funds from 2008 to 2010. Kathryn Jedi Baylon/rga

READ: Arroyo OK on fund release not ‘overt act’ of plunder– SC