In response to former President Noynoy Aquino’s criticism of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s election as House Speaker, Malacañang said Monday that the public should respect the decision of lawmakers at the lower chamber.

Aquino, who was a lawmaker before he became President, raised doubt on what Mrs. Arroyo can still do as leader of the House of Representatives with a few months left for the 17th Congress.

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But Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed the decision to oust a House Speaker and elect a replacement to the post is a sole choice of the members of the House.

Arroyo and her allies at the lower chamber removed Alvarez as House Speaker moments before President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City last July 23.

She was formally elected as House Speaker on the night of July 23 with 184 House members favoring her leadership.

“Ang isyu po ng liderato sa Kamara, iyan po ay isyu para sa mga miyembro ng Kamara at nag-desisyon na po sila, so dapat galangin po ng buong bayan,” Roque said in an interview over DZRH on Monday morning.

Likewise, Roque dismissed reports that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had orchestrated Alvarez’s ouster, saying that Alvarez and Arroyo were both allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kapareho pong kaalyado ni Presidente Duterte si Speaker Alvarez at si Speaker GMA (initials of Arroyo). Nagkaroon lang po talaga ng botohan sa Mababang Kapulungan at binigay ng mga kongresista ang kanilang suporta kay Ginang GMA,” he said.

Arroyo is the 21st leader of the House of Representatives and the first female Speaker of the House. /kga

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