A day before the Congress goes on a Lenten break, the leadership of the House of Representatives on Wednesday declared vacant the positions of Deputy Speaker for Central Luzon held by Lakas Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga, and 11 committee chairmen for voting against the revival of the death penalty.
In a motion, House Majority Leader and PDP-Laban Rep. Rodolfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte said Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Ramon Durano VI of Cebu will replace NPC Rep. Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon as chairperson of Committee on Basic Education and Culture.
Farinas said the names of other new committee chairperson will be announced when session resumes on May 2.
Also removed as committee chairmen are Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Committee on Natural Resources), ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio (Committee on Public Information), Gabriela Rep. Emmi De Jesus (Committee on Poverty Alleviation), Liberal Party Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas (Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation), Diwa Rep. Emmelyn Aglipay-Villar (Committee Women and Gender Equality)
Liberal Party Rep. Henedina Abad of Batanes (Committee on Government Reorganization), Liberal Party Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City (Special Committee on Land Use), Liberal Party Rep. Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands (Committee on People’s Participation), Rep. Michael Velarde Jr. of Buhay (Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs), and Amin Rep.Sitti-Djalia-Hataman (Committee on Muslim Affairs).
“The greater sentiment is we need to implement [the removal] because if not we may lose the discipline in the chamber,” Farinas has said.
For her part, Arroyo said thanked President Duterte for “his expression of understanding late last year regarding my position on the issue.”
“The issue of the death penalty is unlike any other, in that it touches the core of each person’s fundamental view of human life,” she said.
“I believe that the issue required a vote based solely on conscience and the deepest of personal convictions. Thus, despite my support for President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez, I voted against House Bill No. 4727,” Arroyo added.
She said as a plain congresswoman she “will continue to do all I can to support both President Duterte and Speaker Alvarez.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, principal author of the death penalty bill, said he will implement the same policy in the bill lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 9 from 15 years old even if it means losing support from some leaders of lower chamber.