MANILA - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday congratulated former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for being elected House Speaker.

In a controversial House session Monday, Arroyo replaced Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, whom the presidential daughter had a spat with last February.

"Congratulations to SPGMA. A strong leader," Duterte-Carpio said in a brief statement.

Duterte-Carpio last February slammed Alvarez, called him an "insecure fat sleaze," for allegedly calling her a part of the opposition when she formed a separate regional political party.

Alvarez, meanwhile, had denied the Davao mayor's allegations, saying somebody might have just misheard him.

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Arroyo was elected as the new House Speaker Monday evening, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address late Monday evening.

Arroyo secured the speakership with 184 affirmative votes, while 12 lawmakers opted to abstain. She was the sole nominee for the position.

Alvarez was supposed to be ousted during the opening session in the morning, but his allies abruptly adjourned the session to stop other members from raising a motion to declare the Speaker’s post vacant.

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