‘Sorry, Ma’am’: Alvarez apologizes to Robredo for past criticisms
Vice President Leni Robredo joins Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, Governor Edwin Jubahib, and other local officials in a press conference where they endorsed her presidential bid at the Davao del Norte Provincial Capitol in Tagum City on Thursday, March 24. (VP Leni Media Bureau)
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has personally apologized to Vice President Leni Robredo for the things he may have said against her in the past years.
Alvarez, a former House of Representatives speaker who has been an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, was asked about how they managed to mend ties especially as the lawmaker criticized the Vice President in the past.
He is now backing Robredo’s presidential bid, moving from his past endorsement of Senator Panfilo Lacson who is also running for president.
“Hindi naman siguro pinaka-critic ‘no. Although, aminin ko, nag critic din ako kay Vice President, marami rin akong nasabi na di maganda at humihingi ako ng tawad, Ma’am,” Alvarez said during the press briefing at the Davao del Norte provincial capitol.
The former House speaker clarified that he was only able to say things against Robredo because he defended Duterte, whom he considered as his friend.
“Wala naman akong, sabihin mo na ayaw kay VP Leni. No’ng time na ako ay speaker, lahat ginawa ko para protektahan at depensahan ‘yong ating pangulo. Kaya ako naman, gano’n talaga ugali ko ‘pag dine-depensahan ko ‘yong kasama ko, I’m willing to take the bullets,” Alvarez explained.
“Kahit magalit ka na sa akin — kaya maraming nagagalit sa akin no’n dahil nga inaarbor ko ‘yong away, pero wala, gano’n talaga ako, ‘yan ang nature ng personality ko. Magkaibigan tayo, may kaaway ka, pwede kong arborin ‘yang away na ‘yan para protektahan kita. Gano’n lang kasimple ‘yon,” he added.
In 2017, Alvarez called Robredo ‘shameless’ for heavily criticizing Duterte’s drug war, vowing to push for the impeachment of the Vice President even if the Chief Executive said it was part of her free speech.
But in August 2021, Alvarez admitted that the drug war could have been handled better, as a lot of the drug war deaths came from impoverished communities.
For her part, Robredo clarified that Alvarez does not need to apologize as disagreements happen, even among allies — adding that their disagreements were never personal.
“Unang una, Speaker, you do not need to apologize. Kasi over the course of our service naman to the country, merong mga bagay na di talaga mapagkakasunduan. Yung mga magkakampi, hindi naman expected na nagkakasundo sa lahat ng mga bagay. Kami, wala naman kaming personal. Wala sa amin na personal na disagreement,” Robredo said.
“When I filed my certificate of candidacy in October 2021, I filed as an independent. Sinabi ko sa inyo yun yung aking mensahe, ang pinaka mensahe nung pag file ko as independent, bukas ako sa lahat – bukas ako sa lahat as long as nagkakaisa ang aming hangarin para ayusin ang ating bansa,” she added.
Robredo noted that she and Partido Reporma, that party headed by Alvarez, have similar goals in terms of improving the country through good governance.
She also stressed that the more important aspect of alliances is to look at commonalities, or areas where they can agree on.
“‘Yong Reporma naman, pareho ang aming hangarin, to fix our country through good governance and nagkakasundo kami na pareho po yung aming pinaglalaban. Meron siguro kaming hindi pinagkasunduan in the past, and most probably hindi kami aligned sa lahat ng bagay,” Robredo emphasized.
“Pero ang parati ko dyan sinasabi, na ang pinakamahalaga ay yung mga bagay na pinagkakasunduan niyo, hindi yung mga bagay na hindi niyo pinagkakasunduan.
In this case, pareho din kami ni Speaker Alvarez na naniniwala na yung bansa natin, yung pinaka interes natin sa eleksyon na ito, ano yung pinaka makakabuti para sa bansa natin,” she explained.
In a surprising turn of events, Alvarez earlier announced support for Robredo’s candidacy, noting that while they respect and admire Lacson’s leadership, the more viable candidate is the Vice President as two frontrunners emerged in the presidential race.
Prior to Alvarez’ announcement, Lacson resigned from the chairmanship role at Partido Reporma to become an independent candidate.
Alvarez is not the first politician known to be aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte but is now supporting Robredo’s presidential bid. Last March 14, PDP-Laban official and Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone said that he will support Robredo’s presidential bid, adding that the endorsement has the blessings of Duterte.
