Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is still a deputy speaker of

the House of Representatives, at least for the time being.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday sought to correct the

misimpression that he had ordered the replacement of the Pampanga
representative as a House leader for opposing the revival of the
death penalty.

No, not yet, because we have not yet voted in plenary [session],
Alvarez said when asked if Arroyo had been removed from her post.
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He had earlier warned deputy speakers and committee chairs of the

293-seat chamber that they risked being replaced if they planned to
vote against the proposed law restoring the capital punishment for
heinous offenses, one of the top legislative priorities of the Duterte
administration.

Alvarez said the deputy speakers and committee chairs stood to lose
their posts only once they had voted against the measure on the
plenary floor.

Alvarez also dismissed insinuations that he was targeting Arroyo

because she was rumored to be interested in the speakership. Text
messages that Arroyo would replace Alvarez as he was poised to join
Mr. Dutertes Cabinet circulated late last year, but both camps denied
it.

Arroyo has kept mum on the controversy and reporters requests for
an interview were turned down on Wednesday.

Of the 14 deputy speakers in the House, Arroyo and Camarines Sur

Rep. Rolando Andaya have voiced opposition to the bill. Members of
the Makabayan bloc, three of whom have committee chairmanships,
are also opposing the bill.
Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus, chair of the poverty alleviation
committee, said she was prepared to lose her chairmanship, rather
than succumb to patronage politics.

The 1987 Constitution abolished the death penalty with the caveat
that it may be reimposed for heinous crimes through a law passed in
Congress.

It was restored under former President Fidel V. Ramos administration,

while executions started under Joseph Estradas. Arroyo then issued a
ban on executions, and a law was later passed in 2006 ending the
death penalty.

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TAGS: Death penalty, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine news

updates, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

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