Alvarez’s withdrawal of support remark uncalled for: Sen. Estrada

Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada JOSEPH VIDAL/SENATE SMU

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said Davao Del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s call for the “withdrawal of support” to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is uncalled for.

Alvarez, in a rally in Davao del Norte on Sunday, encouraged the “withdrawal of support” to the chief executive, saying doing so would be tantamount to supporting “the provision in the Constitution protecting the people and the state.”

READ: PNP to see if ex-Pres. Duterte’s camp may be held liable for sedition

In the same rally, former President Rodrigo Duterte along with his camp aired their opposition to Marcos administration’s fresh bid for Charter change.

Marcos’ way of dealing with the country’s foreign affairs did not also escape Duterte and his team’s criticism.

READ: Solons: Alvarez liable for sedition for withdrawal of support remark

Did not sit well

But Estrada, head of the Senate’s panel on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, admitted that the congressman’s remarks did not sit well with him.

“That is uncalled for. For me, that is uncalled for,” said Estrada in a phone patch interview. “He’s (Marcos is) doing everything to protect our territory,” he added.

In the same interview, Estrada said the Philippines need to “give attention to [its] allies,” believing that talking to China alone would “do no good.”

“They bully us again and again,” he added.

Following Alvarez’s controversial call, some House lawmakers said the former speaker can “face sedition complaints” over his remarks.

The Philippine National Police said it is also now studying whether or not Alvarez’s statement may be considered “seditious” or not.