SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday shrugged off the reported ouster plot against him and expressed confidence over the majority coalition’s continuing support of his leadership.
“I still have the support of the members of the super majority coalition in the House of Representatives. Nothing has changed,” Alvarez said.
He was reacting to reports that former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whom he served as Transport secretary, would be challenging him for his post.
Arroyo was stripped off her post as deputy speaker for Central Luzon when she voted against the death penalty bill last year.
Meanwhile, the powerful Commission on Appointments has confirmed Alvarez’ promotion to the rank of Colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ reserve force and eight other officials”•including two allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The senators promoted to the rank of colonel were Lorna Regina Legarda (Philippine Air Force) and Emmanuel Pacquiao (Philippine Army).
Alvarez aside, the other members of the House promoted to the rank of colonel were Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia (Philippine Army), House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas (Judge Advocate General Service), Cavite Rep. Roy Loyola (Philippine Army) and Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema (Philippine Army).
Just recently, Alvarez tried to mess with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio whom he accused of being “part of the opposition,” but Alvarez denied it.
Last year, Alvarez also faced an ouster threat when he tangled with his long-time friend and Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. over the “girlfriends.”
The rift between the two led to Alvarez’ s filing of a graft case against Floirendo over the joint venture agreement in 1969 between Tagum Agricultural Development Co. and the Bureau of Corrections.
Alvarez said last year it was never his ambition to become Speaker.
“I never aspired for this [Speakership] position, so anytime I can let it go,” he said earlier.
Last Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Alvarez still enjoyed the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Any such talk is wishful thinking for whoever wants to replace the speaker,” Roque said.