Ethics complaint vs Alvarez found sufficient in form, content

The House Ethics Committee found the ethics complaint against former Speaker and Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez sufficient in form and content, Ako-Bicol party-list lawmaker and committee Vice Chairman Jill Bongalon said Monday.

Bongalon said the complaint, filed by Mayor Rey Uy of Davao del Norte's Tagum City and other Tagum local officials, accused Alvarez of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for public officials.

The complaint also accused Alvarez of disorderly behavior and conduct unbecoming of a public official because of:

• libelous remarks against his fellow local officials;
• habitual absences in the House of Representatives proceedings; and
• seditious utterances and statements during a public rally in Davao City, during which he called for the withdrawal of support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) from the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

“We [the House ethics panel] had initial consideration [of the complaint last week]. As found by the committee, the complaint filed by Rey Uy was sufficient in form and content,” said Bongalon in a press conference.

“That is why the committee decided to send a notice to the Office of Congressman Alvarez for him to answer their allegations within 10 days from receipt,” Bongalon added.

Bongalon said that the House Ethics panel’s decision was sent to Alvarez’s office by registered mail as well as through his office's official email and that of his chief of staff last Friday, May 3, the same day that the House Ethics panel held deliberations on the complaint.

“Right now, we are yet to receive a reply from Congressman Alvarez. Anyway, we are giving him 10 days to file his answer,” Bongalon added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Alvarez and will publish his reply as soon as it becomes available.

Alvarez had earlier denied that his call for the military and police to withdraw their support for President Marcos was seditious or incited sedition since his call was for a peaceful withdrawal of support.

In addition to allegedly calling for the military and police to withdraw their support for the President, Alvarez also supposedly backed former President Rodrigo Duterte's call for Mindanao to secede to stir economic development. — DVM, GMA Integrated News