Pantaleon Alvarez
Pantaleon "Bebot" Diaz Alvarez is a Filipino politician serving as the Representative of Davao del Norte's 1st district since 2016, previously holding the position from 1998 to 2001. He served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. He also served as the Secretary of Transportation and Communications in the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2002.
He is a stern advocate to shift the current centralized set-up of the Philippines into a federal form, pushing for the establishment of an indigenous state in Luzon and an indigenous state in Mindanao. Initially in favor of an independent Mindanao, Alvarez changed stance when Rodrigo Duterte talked about a federal Philippines with him. In 2017, Alvarez proposed a new set-up to spearheaded federalism in the Philippines.
Early life and education
Alvarez was born on January 10, 1958. In 1978, he obtained a bachelor of arts degree from Far Eastern University. He then studied law and graduated from the Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1983.Career
Alvarez was in private law practice from 1984 to 1986. From 1987 to 1992, he was a member of the staff of Philippine Senator Wigberto Tañada. He then became an action officer at the Manila International Airport Authority. From action officer, he rose through the ranks, becoming senior assistant manager and chief operating officer of MIAA in March 1995, a position he held until September 1997.In 1998, he was elected congressman from Davao del Norte's First District. He served as vice-chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Communication and was a member of nine other congressional committees.
In January 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him acting Secretary of Transportation and Communications, where he served until July 2002. Among Alvarez's achievements were the adoption of the light railway expansion program, improvement of the Philippine National Railway, and computerization of the department and attached agencies. He also spearheaded the slogan "OKS na OKS sa DOTC" which means "Organisado, Kalinisan at Seguridad".
On Monday, July 25, 2016 the opening of the 17th Congress He was elected as the 24th Speaker of the House of Representatives Speaker of the House of Representatives with 251 votes.
Accomplishments as House Speaker of the 17th Congress
Alvarez began to take office as Speaker of the House of Representatives on July 25, 2016 to July 23, 2018. Committed to his political will in serving the Filipino people, he filed measurements and House Bills that will highly benefit the country. Listed below are the House Bills, their status and bills enacted into law Alvarez filed during the 17th Congress:- Instituting absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines
House Bill No. 7303
"AN ACT INSTITUTING ABSOLUTE DIVORCE AND DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES"
Status: Committee Report on Bangsamoro Organic Law was approved by both Houses of Congress
"AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6734, ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR AN ORGANIC ACT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO" AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9054, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ORGANIC ACT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO"
- Land Transportation Authority
House Bill No. 6776
"AN ACT CREATING THE LAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 202 AND EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 226, WHICH CREATED THE LAND TRANSPORTATION AND REGULATORY BOARD AND LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE RESPECTIVELY"
- Regional Trial Court in Samal
House Bill 6977
"AN ACT CREATING FOUR ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZING ACT OF 1980" AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
- Philippine Airport Development Corporation
House Bill No. 7306
"AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR"
- Strengthening CAAP
House Bill No. 7407
"AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, ABOLISHING THE CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD AND TRANSFERRING ITS FUNCTIONS TO THE CAAP, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
- Death Penalty
House Bill No. 4727
"AN ACT IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY ON CERTAIN HEINOUS CRIMES, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9346, ENTITLED 'AN ACT PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF DEATH PENALTY IN THE PHILIPPINES', AND AMENDING ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 'REVISED PENAL CODE', AND OTHER SPECIAL PENAL LAWS"
- Ending “Endo”
House Bill No. 6908
"AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SECURITY OF TENURE OF WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
- Stricter Penalty for Violating Minimum Wage
House Bill No. 5018
"AN ACT ENSURING THE EMPLOYEES' RIGHT TO THEIR WAGES, INCLUDING WAGE-RELATED BENEFITS, AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE BENEFITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES"
- Civil Partnership
House Bill No. 6595
"AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP OF COUPLES, PROVIDING FOR THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATION"
- Davao Gulf Development Authority
House Bill No. 6339
"AN ACT DEVELOPING DAVAO GULF AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE DAVAO GULF DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WITH THE DAVAO GULF SPECIAL ECONOMIC FREEPORT ZONE AND THE ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL AS AN ECOTOURISM ZONE UNDER ITS JURISDICTION, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR"
- Abolition of Road Board
House Bill No. 6236
"AN ACT ABOLISHING THE ROAD BOARD CREATED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8794 AND TRANSFERRING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS AND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8794"
- Code of Crimes
House Bill No. 6204
"AN ACT INSTITUTING THE PHILIPPINE CODE OF CRIMES TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER SPECIAL PENAL LAWS"
- Siargao Development Authority
House Bill No. 6349
"AN ACT CREATING THE SIARGAO DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
His Office also initiated the creation of the new House of Representatives website,
Issues
Prejudicial policy making and leadership
In finalizing the General Appropriations Act of 2018, Alvarez and his allies deliberately withheld infrastructure funding from the members of congress whom they find "undesirable". Alvarez states that it's unfair for the members who cooperate with him and the President to receive funding less than those representatives. The total amount of funds reallocated to cooperative members is suspected to amount to 11 Billion Pesos. When asked about the welfare of those regions who will be negatively affected by the reallocation of the budget, Alvarez was unapologetic and told the affected citizens in the regions to blame their constituents for the retaliatory budget cuts. Various members of the congress were alarmed and pointed out the dictatorial and vengeful nature of the Duterte administration and the alacrity in the leadership of Alvarez in perpetuating it.Alvarez has threatened congressmen and various governmental agencies that they would received zero budget if they don't support Rodrigo Duterte's plans to overthrow the Republic of the Philippines by implementing PDP-Laban's Federalism Government. Alvarez stated that he does not care whether the provinces, agencies and local governments affected by his budget cuts would suffer and told the people to blame their representatives instead who refused to follow what Duterte wants. Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. warned Alvarez that "nobody stays in power forever", insinuating that Alvarez will receive his just deserts after his blatant abuse of power and authority.
"Persona Non-Grata" in PDP-Laban
In August 2017, Alvarez was declared "Persona Non Grata" by his own party mates in PDP Laban, Rogelio Garcia and Cesar Cuntapay, stating that Alvarez actions in reorganizing the party nationwide without authority and recruiting new members in exchange for favors severely damaged the party's credibility and Duterte's own legitimacy in his war against drugs. Benito Ranque, PDP-Laban deputy secretary general, states that the new members are not even educated or informed of the party's constitution and by-laws, in support of Cuntapay's accusations. There were also reports that the new politicians that Alvarez recruited are "narco-politicians", involved in illegal drugs manufacturing and trafficking. Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, PDP-Laban's president, however, denied the reports that Alvarez is persona-non-grata despite the numerous PDP-Laban members disdain for Alvarez and his insubordinate actions which violated PDP-Laban's own constitution and by-laws. Pimentel retaliated against Garcia and Cuntapay by ordering them silenced or be disciplined. Alvarez stated that "grumbling members" should either leave or he will "take care" of them.Alleged Graft in PIATCO-Fraport NAIA 3 deal
In 2005, Alvarez along with four other former DOTC officials were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the construction of NAIA Terminal 3. In 2010, the charges were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division due to lack of evidence.Pantaleon Alvarez allegedly used information gained by his position to preempt the bidding process by creating a company called Wintrack which the board awarded a major sub-contract for the project's site development and excavation work. Alvarez and other member of the Piatco and Fraport became board members of Wintrack, benefiting and amassing profits from the deal. The staggering income gotten by Wintrack from the deal has prompted the Ombudsman to file a case of graft against Alvarez and his cohorts.
Martial law in Mindanao
Alvarez was an advocate for the secession of all of Mindanao from the Philippines.He is in favor of extending the martial law in Mindanao until 2022, the end of Rodrigo Duterte's term, citing the threat of terrorism and insurgency in Mindanao.
Abolition of Court of Appeals
Alvarez has threatened to dissolved the Court of Appeals and to disbar CA Special Fourth Division, Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonino-Valenzuela, for granting the habeas corpus petition of six Ilocos Norte officials under their custody for the investigation regarding the "Tobacco Funds" issue. Alvarez in a radio interview said, “They are not even our co-equal branch… They are merely a creation of Congress—that Court of Appeals. They only exist because they were created by Congress. Any time, we can dissolve them. So they better start thinking,”.Alvarez had repeatedly publicly campaigned for the abolition of the Court of Appeals, stating that the said court only allowed lawyers to use delaying tactics and gives corrupt judges ways to abuse their power. He stated that in the federalism set-up he's proposing, he will create special courts that will allow him to dispense speedier "justice".
Influence peddling & "imbecile" Facebook post
Alvarez has been accused of peddling influence in the Bureau of Customs by Mandy Anderson, a Bureau of Customs official. Anderson revealed that Alvarez had been using his position as a lawmaker to urge Faeldon, the BoC commissioner, to appoint Alvarez's recommendations. The accusation came after Mandy Anderson had been criticized and scolded in a congressional hearing by Majority Leader, Farinas, due to a Facebook status message, wherein she called Alvarez an "imbecile" for threatening to dissolve the court of appeals. Alvarez has refuted Anderson's claims, saying that he does not know the Customs Officers whose promotion he endorsed and he only knew him through his resume.Marriage dissolution bill
Álvarez, along with 14 co-authors, had formally filed House Bill No. 6027, titled "An Act Providing for Grounds for the Dissolution of a Marriage". The bill lists irreconcilable differences or severe and chronic unhappiness causing the "irreparable breakdown of marriage" as the possible grounds for its dissolution. The bill prescribes imprisonment of 5 years in prison if spouse is forced to petition for "marriage dissolution". After news of the filing, Alvarez's wife breaks her silence and revealed her grievances regarding her marriage with Alvarez, revealing that she has long since known that Alvarez had been cheating on her countless times. That it was only during after he became Speaker that Alvarez had completely broke off relations with her.In an interview, Emelita Alvarez said “Actually I was abandoned right after Sona when he became the Speaker. We’ve been together for almost 30 years and I’ve been there since the very start that was in ’88. We’ve been through ups and downs, I’m there and people of Davao del Norte will testify that I was even the one who campaigned for him but anyway life should go on”.
Emelita Alvarez also refuted her husband's claim that he's from the Manobo tribe, wherein polygamy is allegedly acceptable. She states that Alvarez was clearly a Catholic when she married him.
Impeachment efforts against the Vice President and Chief Justice
Alvarez has been known for facilitating and endorsing impeachment efforts against Vice President, Robredo and Supreme Court Chief Justice, Sereno. Alvarez's endorsed impeachment complaint against Robredo came after the Vice President reported to the United Nations the state of the country and the War on Drugs that President Duterte's administration is currently conducting. Alvarez claims that Robredo's act of portraying the country in a bad light is a betrayal of public trust, and thus impeachable. Alvarez has also revealed that the congress will be discussing possible impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Sereno for meddling in the case of the Congress' detention of Ilocos-6, wherein Sereno granted the right of habeas corpus to the six individuals.Death penalty advocate
Alvarez had been a staunch supporter of reviving capital punishment, despite the United Nations' moratorium on death penalties, even going so far as to threaten the "dismissal" of representatives who refused to sign the death penalty bill. Alvarez also advocates and encourages the killing of criminals, following the Duterte administration's zero tolerance policy on crimes and corruption.Animosity against the Catholic Church
Alvarez has been a vocal critic of the Catholic Church for opposing the death penalty bill and the Duterte's administration's War on Drugs. This led to his calls for pro-death penalty Catholics to change religion, and to propose taxation of Catholic-run schools, despite its expressed exclusion in the Philippine Civil Code.Close ties with the President
Alvarez, a longtime ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, became House Speaker right after the PDP-Laban reshuffled after the election results came out.Since then, Alvarez has backed Duterte on issues, like the Martial Law in Mindanao, the postponement of Barangay Elections, and Duterte's War on Drugs, which he even promoted to the ASEAN.
There is general consensus that as long as Duterte is in power, Alvarez will remain a House Speaker.
Many critics have expressed that other than having close ties with the President, Alvarez is ill-suited for his position as a Speaker, due to his ineffectiveness in uniting the house to pass bills on critical issues.
Siargao land purchases
The Speaker has also multiple properties in Siargao, a popular tourist town known for its surfing area, with Government records showing that he owns at least 7 properties which have appreciated in value given the increasing popularity of the island. The Speaker, however, defended these land purchases, saying he purchased the properties years ago.Personal life
Alvarez's daughter Paola is the current PDP-Laban spokesperson as well as in the Department of Finance.Alvarez is a Muslim, and admitted to have fathered eight children from three different women out of wedlock. Although legally married, he is in a relationship with Jennifer Vicencio.