The embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pantaleon Alvarez, deserves our ear, understanding and support.
Mr. Alvarez now finds himself in a tiff with a colleague and friend, Rep. Antonio Floirendo, and seeks a probe into the contract between the latter’s business and the Bureau of Corrections.
Alvarez says that the deal is disadvantageous to the government and must be investigated, pronto.
We agree. This is a congressional move that trumps all others, including pending legislation like the long-overdue freedom of information bill. It is also more important than all the probes in aid of legislation on the queue.
This Speaker knows his priorities. Using his high position to go after his former friend is most definitely his prerogative. No one should begrudge him that even as all the other pending matters in Congress are at least as deserving of attention as this one.
The Speaker also speaks a truth many would deny.
Alvarez faces an ethics case in Congress and a petition for disbarment for having an extra-marital affair. “Bring it on,” he says. He challenges all others in a similar situation—there would be no lawyers left in government if all those who were having affairs were disbarred.
The Speaker drives home his point well. Down with these hypocrites, indeed. Never mind that his position as the third-highest official of the land subjects him to a higher standard. Never mind that our acts and decisions must stand for themselves regardless or what everybody else may or may not be doing. Why make an effort to hide a beautiful love affair from the rest of the world?
Finally, this is a man who keeps his promises.
When he shepherded the restoration of the death penalty at the House to aid the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, Alvarez said those who did not support the measure would face certain consequences for their opposition.
He made good on this thr…promise. The bill sailed through the readings, expectedly, and is now just awaiting its counterpart measure at the Senate. But those who voted against it had been marked. A few days after the third reading, their plum posts—deputy speakership, committee chairmanship—were declared vacant.
These are trying times for the House of Representatives generally, and Alvarez, specifically, as they struggle to show they are still worthy of respect. Let’s give them that.
Happy April Fools’ Day.