Former president and Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has shut down another allegation that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos gave her blessing on the plot to remove House Speaker Martin Romualdez from his position.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page, Arroyo extended her apologies for Araneta-Marcos for being dragged into what she deemed as a “political fantasy of a House coup”, adding that this was “disrespectful to her and to her intelligence.”
“Whoever is spreading these pathetic rumors are the ones duping the Filipino people, and they should now move on to the serious business of making positive contributions to national progress,” she underlined.
The former president then pointed out that in the history of Congress, no coup has ever succeeded without the President’s approval.
She also asserted that she would never move to “destroy” the UniTeam, which Romualdez, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., and Vice President Sara Duterte are part of.
“I made a humble contribution to the joining of forces that became the UniTeam, and the resulting supermajority in the House is a major force for delivering our President’s agenda,” Arroyo said.
She further said that she did not converse with any active or retired lawmakers to “plot, support, encourage or participate in any way in any alleged House coup.”
Last May 18, Arroyo first denied that she had an alleged plan to oust the House Speaker.
The rumors sparked after the House of Representatives demoted her from Senior Deputy Speaker to Deputy Speaker in order to lift the "heavy load required from the position".