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Arroyo denies 'coup' plot against Romualdez after demotion

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/07/23/20180723-sona-arroyo-alvarez-4-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. <em>File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA — Former President and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday denied she was planning to oust House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>Arroyo made the statement after the House of Representatives demoted her from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/23/house-replaces-arroyo-as-senior-deputy-speaker">House replaces Arroyo as senior deputy speaker</a></li></ul><p>In her statement, she admitted that she wanted to be House Speaker after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the presidential elections last year.</p><p>&quot;But it soon became apparent that he was most comfortable with then Congress Martin Romaldez as Speaker. I quickly realized the wisdom embedded in that sentiment,&quot; Arroyo said.</p><p>But she rejected allegations that she wanted to replace Romualdez as House Speaker.</p><p>&quot;When I learned that there were reports that I was suspected of plotting a &#x27;coup&#x27; against Speaker Romualdez, I decided I must speak out to clarify my political position. Indeed, some of my actions may have been misconstrued, such as my recent trip with a delegation of Congressmen to Korea for some official meetings,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;To be clear, my political objectives are three: First, to represent the 2nd district of Pampanga. Second, to support the legislative agenda of Speaker Romualdez and President Marcos. Third, to use whatever experience I have as a former President to help out when I am called upon to do so.</p><p>&quot;Outside of my role as Congresswoman, my public interest going forward is to help reduce tensions between the United States and China, given that I was strongly allied to both countries when I was President,&quot; Arroyo said.</p><p>She claimed that she no longer seeks to be the House Speaker again. Arroyo was Speaker of the House in the 17th Congress from 2018-2019 after congressmen voted her to replace then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. </p><p>&quot;This has been my position ever since Speaker Romaldez was elected in the 19th Congress, and I continue to urge my Lakas-SMD. partymates to support our party President in that role,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;This time, I am a mere Congresswoman, so issues of national importance no longer depend on my role in Congress. Thus, I have no compelling reasons to change my mind about foregoing my ambitions for the Speakership,&quot; she added.</p><p>Arroyo said she hopes that her statement will &quot;preempt any needless politicking.&quot;</p><p>Various political blocks in the House renewed their support for Marcos Jr. and Romualdez after the demotion of Arroyo.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/18/23/house-blocs-renew-support-for-marcos-romualdez-after-arroyo-demotion">House blocs renew support for Marcos, Romualdez following Arroyo demotion</a></li></ul><p>Among them was former President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s PDP Laban party-list whose national treasurer, Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Dong Gonzales Jr., replaced Arroyo.</p><p>Arroyo is on her 4th non-consecutive term as district representative after serving as the country&#x27;s chief executive from 2001-2010.</p><p>She is one of the 71 lawmakers in the House belonging to Lakas CMD, which has Romualdez as its party President. <strong>— With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HpTOsejk180?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Arroyo made the statement after the House of Representatives demoted her from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker.