[2] After the ouster of Joseph Estrada in the presidency, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed presidency, and in 2001 elections, after three years, and his presidential run defeat in 1998, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia returned to his post as speaker.
He recruited the former members of Rainbow Coalition like Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party,[1][6] with the addition of PDP–Laban, Reporma, Aksyon Demokratiko, Imee Marcos' Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), and Tomas Osmeña's Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI).
[1] The rumors spread, also saying that there is a faction that are lacking of satisfaction on de Venecia and will challenge his speakership.
[1][8] NPC later promoted to quit in the coalition for the 2004 elections,[9] and later rumored to join the opposition.
[10] Prospero Pichay of Surigao del Sur's 1st district was recruited to be the speakership candidate to match de Venecia.