Palace on speaker change: Up to House

It is up to the members of the House of Representatives to decide on their leadership, Malacañang said yesterday, as rumors swirled that Isabela Rep. Faustino Dy III may be replaced as Speaker.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

“The change in the leadership of Congress is not in the President's hands,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“Whatever they want to do at the House of Representatives is up to them,” she added.

Online media entity Politiko said Dy, who was elected Speaker last September, is “reportedly on shaky ground” as he had “not inspired confidence” and had “not built real relationships.”

According to the news website, there are talks that Malacañang “is eyeing yet another leadership shakeup” in the House as the Marcos administration grapples with the flood control mess.

However, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said the lower chamber cannot afford another shakeup just two months after a new speaker was elected.