Arroyo may lose deputy speaker post for no vote on death penalty
Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Photo by LYN RILLON/Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stands to lose her post after voting no to House Bill 4727 seeking to reimpose the death penalty.
The former President, who abolished the death penalty during her term, stood up during the nominal voting and said she is voting no.
“I vote no,” Arroyo said.
This means Arroyo is willing to sacrifice her deputy speaker post.
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier threatened to strip lawmakers voting no to the death penalty from their committee positions and deputy speaker posts.
READ: Alvarez warns House allies: Back death penalty, or else…
Besides Arroyo, the Makabayan lawmakers who have committee chairperson posts are also at risk of losing their positions – Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, chair of the public information committee; Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, chair of the natural resources committee; and Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus, chair of the poverty alleviation committee.
Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato are also expected to lose their key posts for voting no on the death penalty bill.
Santos-Recto chairs the civil service and professional regulation committee, Belmonte chairs the committee on land use, Bag-ao chairs the committee on people participation, while Sato is a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments.
READ: House leadership forces vote on death penalty
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