House removes Arroyo, Ungab as deputy speakers

THE Office of House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe said Tuesday the House leadership, in its collective capacity and after careful deliberation, has made the decision to relieve Deputy Speakers Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Isidro Ungab of their leadership positions.

This decision stems from the fact that out of the nine Deputy Speakers, only Deputy Speakers Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab chose not to sign a pivotal House resolution sponsored by the entire leadership.

This particular resolution was of paramount importance, as it manifested the collective intention of the House leadership to rise in unison in defense of the institution.

“This resolution was a response to certain quarters that have recently levied criticisms and scurrilous attacks against the House and its leadership.The unity and strength of the House are crucial in these challenging times, and the leadership believes in the importance of standing together as one cohesive body,” said Dalipe.

The House leadership respects the right of each member to their individual opinions and decisions. However, leadership positions come with certain responsibilities and expectations, he added.

One of these expectations is to be aligned with the collective decisions of the leadership, especially on matters of significant importance to the institution.

Dalipe added that by choosing not to sign the resolution, Deputy Speakers Macapagal-Arroyo and Ungab have demonstrated that their perspectives differ from the collective stance of the leadership.

“While their contributions to the House are appreciated and respected, the leadership believes that it is in the best interest of the House to have leaders who fully support and uphold the collective decisions and directions set forth by the leadership. The House as an institution will continue to work diligently on behalf of the Filipino people, and we are committed to ensuring that our leadership reflects the unity and direction needed to effectively serve our constituents,” Dalipe added.