THE House committee on ethics has given Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez 10 days to answer a complaint filed against him for alleged disorderly conduct when he urged the military to withdraw support from President Marcos Jr..
“The allegations are very serious. The committee has given him (Alvarez) 10 days from receipt of the order, for him to answer the complaint filed by Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy,” Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, a member of the House committee on ethics and privileges, told a press conference.
The ethics panel, chaired by Rep. Felimon Espares (PL, Coop Natcco), on Thursday held an initial hearing and found Uy’s complaint sufficient in form and content, prompting the committee to order Alvarez to comment.
The meeting was held virtually and was not streamed on the House of Representatives’ social Facebook and YouTube accounts.
Alvarez has already apologized for his call but insisted there was nothing seditious with his outburst, saying he made it clear that the military can do it peacefully.
Bongalon, who said a hearing will be scheduled and held “after the lapse of 10 days,” maintained that the former speaker’s remarks “were dangerous, libelous and seditious, both in appearances and statements.”
Alvarez, a staunch ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, served as speaker from 2016 to 2018 when he was ousted and replaced by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, a former president, herself.
Last April 14, he urged the AFP during a rally in Tagum City to withdraw support from Marcos amid the rising tension between the Philippines and China in connection with the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
If the military withdraws support, Marcos will be forced to step down as president and Vice President Sara Duterte, who has remained silent on Beijing’s bullying of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, will take over.
Bongalon reiterated the ethics hearing is devoid of politics and the panel has the ministerial duty to act on the complaint.
