With 186 affirmative votes, five negative votes and seven abstentions, the House of Representatives has moved to censure Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez for violating the code of conduct of the House of Representatives.
The move effectively amended Committee Report 1103, submitted by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, which recommended the penalty of 60-day suspension for Alvarez.
House Members agreed to lessen the originally proposed 60-day suspension of Alvarez following appeals from Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo and Northern Samar Rep. Paul Ruiz Daza.
As explained by Romualdo, censure is a formal reprimand or a public statement of the House of Representatives of its disapproval of the conduct of Alvarez.
“This approach fosters a more constructive and rehabilitative outcome allowing Alvarez to make amends and, in the future, be more circumspect in making statements in public,” Romualdo said on Wednesday.
Moreover, Daza argued that censure serves as a sufficient measure to address the misbehavior without excessively affecting Alvarez’s obligation to serve his constituents.
Espares said the 60-day suspension is merely a recommendation of the panel and will adhere to the will of the majority.
The decision stemmed from the case filed by Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy and others against Alvarez for disorderly behavior and gross neglect of duties in violation of the code of conduct of the House of Representatives.