Tagum Mayor Uy says Alvarez’s reprimand enough: It’s lesson learned

FIL E PHOTO: Tagum Mayor Rey Uy talks to the media on the sidelines of the House committee on ethics and privileges hearing of the complaints filed against Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez at the south wing of the Batasang Pambansa complex on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s penalty is just right to remind public officials to be careful with words, said Mayor Rey Uy, who considers the former speaker his best friend.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) here, the city’s chief executive said he was satisfied with the House of Representatives’ decision to censure Alvarez, who urged members of the military to withdraw support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a prayer rally here in April.

Uy was among individuals who filed complaints against Alvarez before the House committee on ethics and privileges over the former speaker’s anti-government remarks.

“Tama na ‘yon, okay na ‘yon, na-reprimand siya, kaya lesson learned, lahat tayo public officials should be careful kung anong mga statement ang ipalabas natin,” Uy told reporters.

(That’s enough, it’s okay that he was reprimanded, that’s why it’s a lesson learned for us, we public officials should be careful with whatever statement we release.)

“Remember public official tayo. Dapat they know, nand’yan tayo sa mga rallies, public gatherings, paabot natin sa mga tao programa, proyekto, hindi ‘yong below the belt,” he added.

(Remember, we are public officials. They should know that in these rallies, public gatherings, what we should give the public are programs and projects, not below-the-belt attacks.)

READ: Alvarez says Marcos support withdrawal call is not seditious

According to Uy,  he and Alvarez have talked about the issue.

“After nag-(usap), best friend ko ‘yan, schoolmate ko ‘yan. All is well that ends well,” Uy said.

(After that we talked, he’s my best friend, he’s my schoolmate. All is well that ends well.)

“Ako, ‘yon nga, ilang eleksyon ko na. Thirteen elections kami? Never once na nagpapa-sakit ako ng mga tao, mga civilians o may katunggali, o public official, no. ‘Pag nandyan ako sa stage, programa lang, ano’ng gawa ko, ano’ng gagawin,” he added.

(I have been in several elections. Thirteen elections together? Never once did I hurt anyone, whether they be civilians or opponents, or public officials. When I am on the stage, I talk about programs, what I intend to do.)

Last May 22, at the last day of session before the sine die adjournment, 186 House lawmakers voted in favor of adopting the House committee on ethics and privileges’ recommendations to censure Alvarez.

READ: Group of retired generals, flag officers support moves to investigate Alvarez

The committee recommended that Alvarez be suspended for 60 days, but Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo asked that this penalty be reconsidered as it might be too harsh given that Alvarez admitted that he was only emotional when he uttered statements against President Marcos’ administration.

Romualdo said Alvarez should be reprimanded instead.

On May 3, committee vice chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon confirmed that the panel found the complaints against Alvarez to be sufficient in form and content.

Bongalon said the complaints filed were for alleged habitual absences, statements against Davao del Norte officials and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, and supposedly seditious remarks during a rally.

Alvarez has been critical of President Marcos’ stance regarding the West Philippine Sea, telling the Chief Executive that he should focus on domestic problems like food, illegal drugs, and armed insurgency.

But last April, the former speaker stepped up his criticism of Marcos, asking the President to resign if he would supposedly drag the Philippines into a conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea.

Alvarez also urged members of the military to withdraw support from Marcos, whose defense officials believe was a seditious act.