House leaders slam Alvarez for ‘seditious’ remarks
Leaders of the House of representatives on Tuesday denounced former speaker Pantaleon alvarez’s recent remarks urging the armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to withdraw its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
House Majority Leader Jose dalipe, senior deputy speaker aurelio Gonzales Jr., and deputy speaker david suarez jointly condemned alvarez’s remarks as “divisive and dangerous.” they said alvarez’s pronouncements are “seditious” and called for immediate legal action to prevent any potential threat to government stability.
“Former speaker alvarez’s irresponsible remarks are not only seditious but also undermine the stability of our government and the rule of law. We cannot allow such reckless behavior to go unchecked,” dalipe said.
Gonzales, for his part, said the former House chief should not be allowed to incite instability and undermine the democratic process.
“As leaders, we must uphold the rule of law and respect the democratic process. His call for the withdrawal of support from the duly-elected President with an overwhelming mandate from 31 million Filipinos is a direct attack on our democratic institutions,” Gonzales said.
Moreover, suarez said provoking military action against the president was “unacceptable” and aims to sow discord, weakening societal cohesion.
“We must stand firm against any attempts to undermine the duly-elected government,” suarez said, adding that alvarez’s statement was “a stark reminder of the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law.”
The House leaders called for the immediate filing of legal charges against alvarez to ensure accountability and prevent any further attempts to destabilize the government.
“We urge the appropriate authorities to take swift and decisive action against former speaker alvarez to uphold the integrity of our institutions and protect the democratic process,” dalipe said.
In urging the AFP to withdraw support from the President, alvarez cited the alleged need for peace and stability in the country as he warned against a potential war in the region that could lead to “destruction” and “famine.”
Alvarez’s remarks come at a time of heightened political tensions following allegations of a “secret agreement” between duterte and China regarding the WPS, further intensifying the need for a unified stance in upholding the Philippines’ sovereignty and democratic principles.
‘Calculated attempt’
House assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun said the remarks made by alvarez during a rally in Tagum City over the weekend. were “not merely an expression of dissent but a calculated attempt to destabilize the government.”
“The clear intention behind alvarez’s remarks is to sow chaos and instability in our nation,” Khonghun said.
recognizing the gravity of the situation, Khonghun called for swift legal action against alvarez.
“We cannot allow individuals to undermine the democratic process and manipulate government institutions for their own political gain,” Khonghun said.
“Former speaker alvarez must be held accountable for his actions, and charges should be filed against him to ensure that justice is served,” he added.
Khonghun warned that alvarez’s “reckless statements threaten the very fabric of our democracy.”
“We must stand firm against any attempts to subvert the will of the people and uphold the rule of law,” he said.
‘I got carried away’
Having been at the receiving end of widespread flak, alvarez was forced to take back the highly-seditious pronouncements he made for the military to “withdraw support” from the administration.
“Pasensya na, nadala rin lang ng bugso ng damdamin (I’m sorry that I just got carried away and my emotions got the better of me),” he said.
Camiguin rep. Jurdin Jesus romualdo said, however, that it was up to the prosecutors of the department of Justice to assess whether alvarez deserves an indictment.
The leadership of both the AFP and PNP vowed to continue supporting the government of Marcos, their commander-in-chief.