Solons chastise Alvarez for Marcos ouster call

Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s recent call for the military to withdraw its support from President Marcos Jr. drew sharp rebuke from his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Alvarez for his comments and file the necessary charges.

“The response to the seditious statement should be the immediate filing of a criminal case so that the move to incite people, including the military, to rebel against the government will be nipped in the bud,” Romualdo said.

He said the crime of sedition includes a person’s conduct, remarks or speech inciting the public to move against the state or duly-constituted or elected authority.

“Clearly, what former Speaker Alvarez remarked during a rally in Tagum City falls within the purview of sedition,” said Romualdo, a former governor.

Alvarez had criticized Marcos for his handling of the South China Sea conflict with China, and urged the military to have a hand in removing the President so that Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, could take over as Chief Executive.

Alvarez also referred to the President as "Bobo Marcos".

Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel agreed with Romualdo’s assessment, saying that Alvarez’s call was "tantamount to an act of sedition or rebellion".

"The remarks of former Speaker [are] uncalled for. That is tantamount to an act of sedition or rebellion," Pimentel said in a statement.

"Now is not the time to be divisive when our country is trying to promote our country to be an investment haven to foreign investors," said the veteran solon and National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart.

"Instead we shoul all unite and give our support to PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) with his effort for economic reforms," Pimentel said.

Meanwhile, Lanao del Norte 1st district Rep. Khalid Dimaporo is seeking an inquiry with the House Committee on Ethics on whether Alvarez should be censured for his allegedly "anti-government" remark.

"I would kindly urge the former Speaker to be cautious with his words and clear on his intent," Dimaporo said in a statement.

"On face value, his anti-government statements are unbecoming of a member of the [House of Representatives] and may warrant an ethics case against him," he said of the ex-speaker.