Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday played down a reported move to oust Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. as House Majority Leader.
“Well I don’t know how many congressmen shared that sentiment. As far as I can see, the majority still supports the incumbent,” Arroyo told reporters.
Arroyo said she would support Andaya, “who is doing an excellent job.”
“I have only one vote. I’ll vote for Nonoy [Andaya],” Arroyo said.
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At the same time, she said she would not stop any congressman from taking the issue to a vote.
“I exercise democracy, I am open-minded,” she said. “I think Nonoy can take care [of that]. I am not an interventionist person on political matters. I am selectively hands on.”
Earlier, Andaya said he would be the first to vote for his ouster.
“I will be the first to vote that I be relieved as Majority Leader,” he said after Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte called on the pro-Duterte majority coalition to oust Andaya over the delayed approval of the proposed 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget.
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Earlier, Andaya underscored the need to scrutinize the national budget to address the alleged P75 billion in insertions by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
Villafuerte said Andaya should be removed as the budget delay jeopardizes President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority programs.
Villafuerte also wants Andaya replaced because of his relentless attacks on Diokno.
“Andaya does not deserve to remain a minute longer as House majority leader for committing acts inimical to the interests of the pro-administration coalition and of the Filipino people,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said Andaya’s failure or refusal to put an immediate stop to his endless tirades against the national budget, “would be a confirmation of a long-nagging suspicion that he is a sleeper agent of the political opposition out to destabilize the Duterte administration ahead of the midterm elections.”
