Speaker: House war not due to girlfriends

MANILA, Philippines -  The verbal spat between their girlfriends last year had nothing to do with his move to file graft charges against fellow Davao del Norte congressman Antonio Floirendo Jr., Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said yesterday.

While claiming he is not closing his doors to Floirendo, the Speaker appeared not to be ready to mend fences with his erstwhile friend and the biggest campaign contributor of President Duterte.

Alvarez has filed a graft case with the Office of the Ombudsman against Floirendo in connection with possible irregularities in an agreement between Tagum Agricultural Development Co. Inc. (Tadeco) owned by the latter’s family and the Bureau of Corrections. Alvarez is also pushing for a congressional probe on Floirendo’s banana venture.

In an interview with dzMM, the Speaker confirmed he had not been taking Floirendo’s calls.

“Hindi ko po kinakausap, Kabayan, baka mamaya aregluhin pa ako. Mahirap po iyun (I’m not talking to him. He might try to talk things over. I don’t think it’s good),” he said, laughing.

This prompted anchor Noli de Castro to ask: “Magpapa-areglo ba kayo (Will you be willing to settle)?” to which Alvarez replied – again laughing – “Kaya nga iniiwasan ko eh (That’s why I’m avoiding him).”

The two had been the best of friends since their days as congressmen in the early 2000s, both being lawmakers from the same province.

The two are steadfast allies of President Duterte, who had been mayor of Davao City for more than 20 years.

In an interview with The STAR, Alvarez emphasized his friendship with Floirendo ends where the interest of the country begins.

“Look at the contract between BuCor and Tadeco. Do not look at our friendship,” the Speaker said.

Alvarez confirmed his girlfriend and Floirendo’s partner engaged in a verbal tussle last year but that the incident had nothing to do with the current animosity between them.  – With Jess Diaz