Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez (Facebook)

The House of Representatives has handed down the penalty of "censure" or formal reprimand to former Speaker, Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as punishment for the ethics case filed against him. 

The punishment--contained in the amended Committee Report No.1103 prepared by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges--was affirmed through nominal voting in plenary Wednesday night, May 22 with 186 affirmative votes. 

A total of five House members votes in the negative ,while another seven abstained. 

Alvarez--a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte and a former House Speaker--was supposed to receive a heftier penalty. 

The committee report, as read on the floor by ethics panel chairman COOP NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, originally recommended a 60-day suspension on the Mindanaoan. 

Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy filed the ethics case against Alvarez. Uy cited three grounds to penalize Alvarez, including the supposed libelous remarks the latter made against his fellow government officials, including the vice governor of Davao del Norte; and the solon's alleged seditious remarks during a political rally where he urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw its support from President Marcos; 

A third ground--Alvarez’s alleged habitual absences in the House of Representatives--was also raised by Uy. It was eventually dismissed during an earlier committee hearing. 

"“As guardian of this institution, the committee cannot countenance such words or statements that would put into disrepute the image of our institution. As public officer and trustees of the people, we owe this to the Filipino people from whom they have given their trust and confidence,” Espares said in justifying the 60-day suspension. 

But Camiguin lone district Rep. Jesus Jurdin Romualdo and Senior Deputy Minority Leader Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza stood up separately to manifest their opposition to the penalty, which they described as too harsh. 
 

HAVE YOU READ THIS?

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/21/will-alvarez-get-punished-by-house-colleagues-over-ethics-case

"I am inclined to urge my colleagues to reduce the disciplinary action recommended by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges against Representative Pantaleon Alvarez,” Romualdo said. “While I agree that the statements made by Rep. Alvarez are unparliamentary and distasteful that his behavior undeniably discredited the House of Representatives, the committee acknowledge that they are emotional expressions rather than intentional calls for harm or further political consequences,” he said, adding that the two-month suspension  was "disproportionate to the nature and context of his misconduct."

Romualdo moved for the penalty to be downgraded to censure, which he described as "a formal reprimand, a public statement of the House of Representatives of its disapproval of the conduct" of Alvarez. 
Daza concurred with Romualdo, and said that a censure would be a more "balanced approach" and ensure Alvarez's "continued legislative contribution". 

Deputy Majority Leader Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin subsequently opened the peiord of amendments during which the recommended penalty of a 60-day suspension was turned into censure. 

The nominal voting followed in a session that was attended by Alvarez.