DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Former President and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday branded talks about her becoming prime minister under a federal form of government as black propaganda.
She begged off from talking about politics and said she wanted to concentrate on working for the good of those displaced by the recent typhoons.
Arroyo said the draft on the proposed Constitution — although she said she has not seen the committee report — is about a presidential–federal form of government.
“We don’t want to talk about politics. We only talk about work,” the House Speaker said when pressed to explain on her thoughts about the Charter Change, the prime minister issue, and the alleged planned transfer of her political allies to Davao Mayor Sarah Duterte’s party.
“Definitely, I will not support term extension,” Arroyo stressed.
She announced that she will meet with officials of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Congress on Monday to discuss the extent of damage the recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon have inflicted in some parts of Central Luzon.
She said they will also talk about rehabilitation.
The former president was in Barangay Pinulot in Dinalupihan town and distributed relief goods consisting of rice, noodles and canned goods to 1,200 families.
Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia said that after Arroyo was shown pictures of the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Josie, the new House Speaker told them she would conduct a meeting with NDCC officials on Monday.
“Since 2012, this is the worst flood that ever hit Dinalupihan,” Garcia said, adding that all the 46 barangays of the town were affected. (Ernie Esconde with report from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
