PALAWAN 2nd District Rep. Jose “Pepito” Alvarez on Thursday suggested that his name was dragged into the so-called “Marines” controversy after he refused to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that was filed earlier this year and later overwhelmingly rejected by the House of Representatives.
Alvarez made the statement as he strongly denied allegations during a press conference on the Senate with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano that he had received a suitcase full of cash from former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, based on claims by former Marine officers who alleged delivering cash-filled luggage to lawmakers and other personalities.
“Wala akong tinanggap na pera, wala silang dinala sa akin na maleta,” Alvarez told reporters.
He went to the Senate after learning that his name had been dragged into the controversy.
Alvarez said that before his name surfaced in the controversy, he had been approached to support an impeachment complaint against President Marcos allegedly being circulated by former congressman Mike Defensor.
“Mahirap man akong magsabi ng motibo, ngunit siguro may kinalaman doon sa pinadala sa akin ni Mike Defensor,” Alvarez said.
He showed reporters a message purportedly sent by a certain “Margarette” on behalf of Defensor, asking him to endorse an impeachment complaint against the President for alleged graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust.
According to Alvarez, the message urged him to publicly support the complaint, saying his “principled stance on accountability” made him an ideal endorser.
But Alvarez said he immediately rejected the request.
“Ang sagot ko, ‘no, sorry.’ Hindi ko pa nga nababasa eh, pinapa-endorse na kaagad sa akin,” he said.
The impeachment complaint against the President was later thrown out by the House Committee on Justice for being insufficient in substance.
The House plenary subsequently affirmed the committee’s findings by an overwhelming vote of 284-8, with four abstentions, effectively ending the impeachment effort against the President.
Alvarez noted that it was only after he declined to endorse the complaint that his name suddenly became linked to the “Marines” issue.
“Pagkatapos, pinadala sa akin, na kung maaari daw i-endorso ko. Eh no’ng hindi ko inendorso, bigla na lang akong nagkapangalan dito,” he said.
He also categorically denied receiving money from Co, stressing that they had no financial dealings or obligations with each other.
“So sunod no’n, kasama na po ako dito sa Marines. Pero I can say categorically wala po akong tinanggap na maleta galing kay Zaldy Co, dahil wala namang utang si Zaldy Co sa akin, wala rin akong utang sa kanya,” Alvarez said.
