Amid ethics charge vs Alvarez, Abante asks solons: Be careful with words

Former President Rodrigo Duterte chats with former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who celebrated his birthday at the New Tagum City Hall. — File photo from MALACAÑANG

MANILA, Philippines — Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. has advised lawmakers to be more careful with their words since they are public officials.

His statement comes as a House of Representatives panel is set to hear again a complaint against former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Abante said he has no idea as to what will happen at the House committee on ethics and privileges hearing on the complaints against Alvarez.

But he thinks the statements uttered by the former speaker would be on the table.

The hearing on the ethics complaints against Alvarez is part of the committee’s activities for Thursday.

“The thing is, later today, we’re gonna have the ethics committee hearing, but I don’t know what would happen because we’re actually dealing with another member. So, we’ll see what would happen,” Abante said.

“Well, on my own, first of all, if you are a public servant or member of the House of Representatives, we need to be more careful of our words, when it comes to what they actually mention (like) ‘let us not support the administration anymore?'” he noted.

“For me, that carries a heavy weight,” he added.

READ: Alvarez may be delisted as Marine reservist after Marcos ouster call 

Last May 3, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said the committee found the complaints against former Alvarez to be sufficient form and content.

Alvarez currently represents Davao del Norte’s 1st District.

READ: House ethics panel finds complaints vs Alvarez ‘sufficient in form’ 

Bongalon, vice chairperson of the panel, said the complaints against Alvarez were filed for three reasons – alleged habitual absences, statements against Davao del Norte officials and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, and supposedly seditious remarks that the former speaker mentioned in a rally.

Alvarez has been critical of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stance regarding the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

He told the chief executive that he should focus on domestic problems like food, illegal drugs and armed insurgency.

Recently, the former speaker asked the President to resign if he would supposedly drag the Philippines into a conflict with China over the WPS.

READ: Alvarez to Marcos: Stop escalating WPS tension or yield presidency 

Alvarez also urged members of the military to withdraw their support from Marcos, which defense officials believe was an act of sedition.

However, the lawmaker believes such a call was not seditious because it was done in a peaceful and orderly manner.