Imee Marcos campaigned ‘very actively’ for Arroyo’s speakership — solon

Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos campaigned "very actively" for the installation of Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo made the admission on Monday, a week after Arroyo replaced Davao Del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker of the House.

Also according to Castelo, a manifesto is being passed around lawmakers through Viber to support Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo Fariñas as minority leader, but it "is not yet catching fire."

But Marcos' campaigning for Arroyo also made some lawmakers from northern Luzon apprehensive about supporting Fariñas to retain his position or become minority leader.

"The concern here really is the body language of some of our colleagues. There are some representatives from the northern provinces na apprehensive because there is a political dynamic sa Ilocos Norte," he told reporters in a press conference.

"We all know na very active din sina Imee to campaign for the installation of Speaker GMA. So I think there is some political problem," he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Marcos for comment.

It was Fariñas who filed a House resolution to investigate the Ilocos Norte provincial government's alleged use of tobacco excise tax shares to purchase P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles.

Castelo could not say if there is no chance that Fariñas would be given a position in the Lower House given Marcos' supposed blockage. — BM, GMA News