Not even former President, now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be spared by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who earlier said that House leaders against the death penalty bill will be replaced.

Alvarez addressed the media after the super-majority caucus on Wednesday afternoon and warned that Arroyo will be replaced because of her stand against capital punishment.

"We have to replace her as Deputy Speaker," Alvarez said.

"Leadership bill ito, kung hindi ka sang ayon sa liderato, it will be awkward na kasama sa leadership tapos di ka sumasama," he added.

Alvarez served as secretary of Transportation and Communications from 2001 to 2002 under then President Arroyo.

The Arroyo administration abolished the death penalty in 2006. Arroyo had previously said that she had informed President Duterte about her objection to the death penalty.

"I spoke to President Duterte about that. It's alright with him if I oppose death penalty," Arroyo recalled.

Alvarez, meanwhile, said the leadership will ask majority parties for new deputy speakers to replace those who will vote against the measure.

He also dismissed warnings that he is risking his speakership and the unity of the super-majority by his pronouncements.

"Lalong lumakas yung aking posisyon. So far, so good. Very confident," he said.

Alvarez is optimistic that his pet bill will be approved by the chamber before it adjourns.

The Speaker also revealed that during the super-majority caucus, the consensus was to remove the mandatory death penalty, thus giving judges full discretion if they will impose the death penalty on a covered crime.

He also revealed they may reduce the number of covered crimes. Plunder has already been excluded.