House names Rep. Rosemarie Arenas as Batanes caretaker

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has designated Pangasinan Rep. Rosemarie Arenas as caretaker of the lone district of Batanes.

The chamber made the designation on Wednesday night shortly before Congress went on its month-long Halloween recess.

Arenas replaced former speaker and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who was named Batanes caretaker after the late congresswoman Henedina Abad died on Oct. 8, 2017.

Abad was the wife of Aquino administration budget secretary Florencio Abad. The Abads and Belmonte belong to the Liberal Party.

The House designates caretakers in legislative districts whose representatives have died or been appointed to executive positions.

Explaining the designation of Arenas as his replacement, Belmonte said the Speaker “has a free hand in the choice of caretaker, duly considering the needs of the constituents of the lone legislative district of Batanes and my inability to continue performing my duty as such.”            

He said as a former Speaker, “I know that the choice of caretaker is solely the prerogative of the Speaker, who must ensure that the needs of the legislative district continue to be addressed and its constituents taken care of.”

“In my time as Speaker, the only hint of tradition or custom on the appointment of caretaker was that the deputy speaker covering the area would be designated as caretaker if the Speaker himself or herself is unable to take on the role,” he said. 

“Since Speaker (Gloria) Macapagal-Arroyo has decided not to take on the Speaker’s role of caretaker, I believe it is appropriate for Deputy Speaker Rosemarie Arenas, who represents Northern Luzon, to take on the role,” he added.