The Speaker and his deputies

- Advertisement -

The 1987 Constitution requires that Congress shall have a President of the Senate and a Speaker of the House of Representatives, and both are elected by a majority vote of all the members of their respective chambers.

However, the same Constitution allows each house to choose other officers it may deem necessary for the proper operation of the legislative branch.

The House under Speaker Martin Romualdez has decided on nine deputy speakers, one of them designated as “senior.” It is presumed that these people are well-versed in the job of legislation, and are able to help the Speaker, and by extension the chief executive, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘Now an ordinary congresswoman, Arroyo however remains a political force to reckon with in the House, and even in the whole of society…’

- Advertisement -

The deputy speakers shall assume the duties and powers of the Speaker when so chosen by a majority vote or by lot among themselves, in cases of absence or temporary incapacity of the Speaker, until such time that the Speaker returns to office and resumes work, and in case of resignation, removal, permanent incapacity or death of the Speaker, until such time that a new Speaker is elected and qualified.

Another task of the deputies is to preside over the session when, even if present, the Speaker does not preside or has not designated any other member as temporary presiding officer. They also recommend to the Speaker policies, strategies and programs of action to improve the process of legislation or the quality of legislative measures.

Until last Monday, the deputy speakers were Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Vincent Franco Frasco, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Roberto Puno, Ralph Recto, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Isidro Ungab, and Camille Villar. On Tuesday, Arroyo and Ungab were booted out from their positions and replaced by Antonio Albano of Isabela and Lanao del Sur’s Yasser Alonto Balindong.

Majority leader Manuel Jose Dalipe explained that the House decided on this latest revamp “after careful deliberation,” stressing that the decision stemmed from Arroyo and Ungab’s not signing a pivotal House resolution sponsored by the leadership. House Resolution No. 1414, the document in question, sought to uphold the dignity and integrity of the House. But it was in reality a counter-tirade against former President Rodrigo Duterte who earlier exercised his acerbic tongue and called the House “the most rotten government organization.” Duterte’s criticism came after the House removed the confidential funds requested by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) which are both headed by his daughter, Sara.

The House leadership considers the resolution of paramount importance, as it manifests the collective intention of the House leadership to rise in unison in defense of the institution. What happened, therefore, is some sort of loyalty check initiated by the Speaker who by now can no longer hide his rivalry that borders on feud with the Vice President whose supporters include Arroyo and Ungab.

Dalipe need not belabor the point that by choosing not to sign the resolution, Arroyo and Ungab showed their perspective differ from that of the House leadership, and should therefore leave the ranks of deputy speakers.

Arroyo is no stranger to the vagaries of Philippine politics. This is the second demotion for Arroyo, who earlier lost her “senior deputy speaker” position to province-mate  Aurelio Gonzales, following rumors that she was planning a coup against the Speaker. Now an ordinary congresswoman, Arroyo however remains a political force to reckon with in the House, and even in the whole of society, because of her long experience and deep influence in government, having been senator, vice president, and President for so many years.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: