Nagbigay ng pahayag si Pampanga 2nd district congresswoman at dating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nitong Miyerkules, Nobyembre 8, matapos siyang patalasikin bilang deputy speaker kasama si Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab sa isinagawang plenary session noong Martes ng gabi, Nobyembre 7.

MAKI-BALITA: Arroyo, Ungab, pinatalsik ng Kamara bilang deputy speakers

Ayon kay Arroyo, inalis siya sa posisyon dahil sa hindi umano niya pagpirma sa House Resolution No.1414 na naglalayong suportahan ang leadership ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

“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,” paliwanag niya.

Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho

Itinanggi rin niya ang kumakalat na balita tungkol sa pinaplano niya umanong pagpapatalsik kay Romualdez bilang House Speaker.

“From the time that I learned that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s  preference for Speaker was, and is, then Congressman Martin Romualdez, I took  the position that I will support him as Speaker. I had advised the President of this in writing,” ani Arroyo.

Dagdag pa niya: “I have never taken or supported any action to remove Speaker Romualdez from his position. In fact, I have publicly stated that I have given up any plans to aspire for the Speakership again, in this and any future Congress that I would have the honor to be a part of.”

Ngunit kung may mangumbinse man umano kay Romualdez na hindi niya totoong sinusuportahan ang pamumuno nito sa Kamara, wala na umano siyang magagawa hinggil dito.

Pahayag ni Arroyo: "Even as an ordinary congressman, I will remain true to my word to President Marcos, Jr.–I will continue to support his preferred man for House Speaker, and that is Speaker Martin Romualdez.”

"Having made myself clear, I think we should now move on to more pressing national concerns," dagdag pa niya. 

Matatandaang ilang araw bago ang pagpapatalsik kina Arroyo at Ungab ay nagbigay ng pahayag si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kaniyang panayam sa SMNI tungkol umano sa Kongreso bilang “most rotten institution”.