Alvarez denies joining minority

MANILA, Philippines — Former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday threatened to file libel charges against The STAR for publishing an article that lumped him together with members of the chamber’s minority bloc.

“Libel case to be filed against STAR and Delon Porcalla,” read a press release of the Davao del Norte congressman, based on Monday’s story entitled “House minority decimated” where its “tenor is that I supposedly joined the House minority.”

“The claim that I joined the minority, or one of the three (3) minority blocs, is not true. First of all, I am not part of the minority and, consequently, cannot be part of any minority bloc,” he maintained. “I am not part of any of those minority blocs.”

“Instead, I am an independent member of the House,” Alvarez insisted, which meant he does not belong to the 284-strong super majority coalition despite being secretary-general of President Duterte’s PDP-Laban.

“The article should be taken down immediately and an apology be issued by Philippine STAR. Further, I am constrained to file the appropriate legal action against Mr. Porcalla and those involved in the publication of the libelous article,” he warned.

While Alvarez endorsed ousted Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano in the speakership row, he disclosed nonetheless that he abstained from voting for or against now Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and decided to be non-aligned.

“Right from the very beginning of the 18th Congress, I have been vocal about my concern regarding a term-sharing agreement and its effect of dividing the House and causing unnecessary obstacles in the immediate passage of important legislative items,” he said.

“As for my membership, be it majority, minority or otherwise, the last paragraph of Rule II, Section 8 categorize members who opted for a course of action resulting into membership categorized as independent,” Alvarez clarified.