FORMER speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon could potentially face a probe by the House Committee on Ethics due to his recent call to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw support for President Bongbong Marcos Jr.
Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo also cautioned Alvarez to choose his words carefully as his recent ones seem to constitute conduct unbecoming a member of the House of Representatives.
“I would kindly urge the former speaker to be cautious with his words and clear on his intent. At face value, his anti-government statements are unbecoming of a member of the House of Representatives and may warrant an ethics case against him,” Dimaporo said.
In a political rally of die-hard Duterte supporters held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Sunday, Alvarez called on the AFP to withdraw support for President Marcos Jr. in view of administration policies that the former speaker claims tend to escalate the tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Asked whether the Department of Justice can indict Alvarez on charges of sedition owing to his recent statements, Dimaporo said the country should not give much importance to the former speaker.
“As for the DOJ, it should be decided on by the Executive. But I don’t feel he should be given importance. Our country has other more pressing matters for the DOJ to attend to than the grumblings of a politician,” Dimaporo expressed.
Many have expressed views that the statements of Alvarez can be considered as sedition.
