Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PPAB)

House Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released on late Thursday night, May 18 a lengthy response to rumors that she was hatching a coup against Speaker Martin Romualdez.

"When I learned that there were reports that I was suspected of plotting a 'coup' against Speaker Romualdez, I decided I must speak out to clarify my political position," Arroyo, a former Philippine president and House Speaker, said in a statement sent to House reporters.

"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," she said, referring to a trip there took place during the recent summer break in Congress.

In her statement, Arroyo admitted to previously having plans to once again become Speaker at the start of the 19th Congress, with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the country’s helm.

"When President Marcos won, I wanted to aspire for the Speakership of the House. But it soon became apparent that he was most comfortable with then-[Congressman] Martin Romualdez as Speaker," she said. Marcos and Romualdez are cousin.

Arroyo--who was recently removed from her post as senior deputy speaker--spoke of how she has accepted this reality, and of dropping her "political objective" of becoming Speaker again.

"In the Philippines, the House leadership has traditionally been closely associated with the sitting President, and this relationship of deep trust between Speaker and President has been beneficial in smoothly enacting the legislative agenda of the President.

"I think this is acceptable, because in the Philippines, the check and balance needed in any democracy has traditionally been well-provided by the Senate," she said.

"So it should be noted that being Speaker once more is no longer part of my political objectives. This has been my position ever since Speaker Romualdez was elected in the 19th Congress, and I continue ot urge my Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) partymates to support our party president (Romualdez) in that role," said Arroyo.

As if practicing clairvoyance, the 76-year-old politican gave a response in advance to those who might say that she could change her mind about no longer pursuing the top post in the House.

"Am I firm in this position? Some may recall that in December 2002, I publicly declared that I would not run for President in 2004. But I had responsibilities of a sitting President then, so later events with serious national security and political implications convinced me to change my mind."

Arroyo claims that she is now just "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. By this disavowal, I hope that we can preempt any needless politicking so that the House and our President can focus on the job at hand with minimum distraction," she said.

During plenary session Wednesday, May 17, Arroyo was removed as senior deputy speaker and relegated to the position of deputy speaker. Replacing her was Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. of the Rodrigo Duterte-led Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Her removal from the lofty post was allegedly triggered by the leak of the plan to unseat Romualdez.

Romualdez and Arroyo are party-mates ,with the latter being the chairperson emeritus.