Alvarez to voters: Be ‘issue oriented,’ support bets pushing for federalism

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. (Photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is urging politicians to “elevate the maturity of politics” in the country as he called on voters to elect candidates based on their campaign issues.

Alvarez also called on the public not to support senators and administration officials who are not supporting the push for federalism.

“Kung ayaw mo ng federalism, we really have to campaign against you kasi ayaw mo na umasenso ‘yung mga probinsya because para sa amin, itong federalism, ang magbebenefit nito talaga yung mga provinces, yung mga regions,” Alvarez said in an ambush interview in Agusan del Sur.

“Kaya kami, gusto namin na maaprubahan ito at maging parte ng ating Saligang Batas upang sa gayon ay ma-ensure natin na within the term of President Duterte ay iba na yung structure of government natin,” he added.

The House leader was referring to the proposed amendments to the 1987 constitution that would pave way to the country’s shift to a federal government.

In choosing candidates especially in the upcoming 2019 elections, Alvarez urged voters to be “issue-oriented” and not “personality-oriented.”

He said people should not vote for a certain candidate because of his popularity or because of the celebrities who are endorsing the politician.

“Issue-oriented tayo, hindi na kagaya ng dati na porke’t sikat, palaging nasa telebisyon, artista o kung sinuman yan, anak ng artista… iboboto natin,” he said.

“Yung mga kampanya noon na pag lumabas sa telebisyon nandoon pa yung kung sino yung artista…mali ‘yon,” Alvarez said.   /muf