Shouting match erupts as Fariñas questions reso electing Arroyo as Speaker

A shouting match between lawmakers erupted at the House plenary on Wednesday afternoon after Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas questioned the resolution electing Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as House Speaker.

READ: While Alvarez was making enemies, Arroyo was consolidating her forces

“As of the last session the other day, I am the majority leader and chair of the committee on rules,” Fariñas asserted on the floor.

“May I know if this resolution passed the committee on rules?” he asked Deputy Speaker Rolando Andaya, Jr. who was presiding the session.

Andaya answered in the affirmative and said Rep. Fredenil Castro was elected interim majority leader and approved House Resolution 2025 which contains the proceedings of the July 23 session.

At this point, ACT-Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio approached the stand and objected to the motion which was being approved even though he was objecting.

“Objection, Mr. Speaker! Point of order Mr. Speaker!” Tinio shouted.

“Pinatayan nyo ko ng mic! May nag o-obect hindi nyo kinilala, kitang kita naman oh! Mahiya naman kayo, I am objecting!” he continued.

Andaya said: “Nakabukas na yung mic.”

Tinio replied: “Kung may botohan tatanungin muna kung may objection at malinaw na may objection.”

In an interview after, Castro told reporters that the resolution was already approved. “Alam mo naman, mabilis ako,” he said.

He also explained that he was designated by the duly-elected Speaker of the House as interim majority leader.

“I had the authority to take over the position of the majority leader,” he added. “In fact, that implicitly removed him (Fariñas) from the position.”

Arroyo made her return to power after 184 House members elected her as the new Speaker on Monday night, ending Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s two-year grip on the post.  /muf

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.