By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In the Philippines, nothing is impossible in politics and this includes the prospect of former President and now Pampanga’s 2nd district Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo running for governor in Negros Occidental in 2025.
This possibility was bolstered when FPGMA just flashed her ala-Mona Lisa smile when asked during her recent visit to Negros Occidental if she’s gunning for the top post in the vote-rich province which has 1.95 million voters as of 2022.
Political pundits told Maharlika NuMedia that this is possible because “All she (FPGMA) has to do is become a registered voter in Negros Occidental and must be resident thereof for not less than one year immediately preceding May 12, 2025.”
It was learned that incumbent Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson already announced his plan to seek re-election for a third term in the next elections.
He recently met with Macapagal-Arroyo, but there was no mention of politics.
Another possible gubernatorial candidate is FPGMA’s son former Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
INSINUATING THAT SHE’S JUST A VICTIM of intrigues, Pampanga Second District Congresswoman and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday maintained her support for Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez as leader of the 316-member House of Representatives even after she was stripped of her post as Deputy House Speaker.
FPGMA said that there’s nothing she can do if some “intriguers” were able to sway Romualdez.
“There is always intrigue in politics, often petty. If some intriguers were able to convince Speaker Romualdez of the falsehood that I do not support his leadership in the House, then there is nothing I can do,” Arroyo said in a statement.
FPGMA explained why she failed to sign House Resolution 1414 that supports Romualdez’s leadership in the lower chamber.
“Some people told me that I was stripped of the ‘deputy speaker’ title because I did not sign House Resolution No. 1414 that expresses support for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez,” the former president and now lawmaker said.
She stressed: “I was abroad when the resolution was signed, so I was unable to sign it. In any case, that resolution does not contain anything new for me, because I have always supported his leadership as Speaker.”
During the plenary session late Tuesday, November 7, the floor leader on duty, Cagayan 1st District Rep. Ramon Nolasco, Jr., made the successive twin motions that demoted both FPGMA and Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab to mere congressmen.
”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,” House Majority Leader Manuel Jose ”Mannix” Dalipe explained about replacing FPGMA and Ungab.
Since no one objected, House Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno quickly approved Nolasco Jr.’s motion.
The lower chamber then elected Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano as deputy speaker replacing Arroyo, and Rep. Yasser Balindong as deputy speaker replacing Ungab.
FPGMA and Ungab are widely known as “loyalists” of Romualdez’s arch political rival Vice President Sara Duterte in the much-anticipated 2028 presidential race.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
IN AN UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT, former President and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday congratulated Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on his high trust rating.
“I would like to congratulate House Speaker and Lakas President Martin Romualdez on the recent OCTA Research Report reflecting a +6% increase in Trust Rating to 60%,” the former president said in a statement.
According to the third quarter survey of OCTA Research conducted from September 30 to October 4, Romualdez garnered a 60% trust rating and 61% performance rating.
Both the Speaker’s trust and performance ratings increased by 6% compared to the survey conducted in July.
Arroyo’s congratulatory remarks on MR caught many by surprise as the former president is widely known to be the political mentor of Inday Sara, monicker of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The younger Duterte was instrumental in installing FPGMA as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2018 after ousting Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez of Davao del Norte’s 1st district.
MR — as Romualdez supporters call him — is expected to run for president in 2028 in his bid to succeed his cousin President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
MR and Inday Sara are the main protagonists in the 2028 presidential race.
(ai/mnm)