Alvarez denies bribing way to top House post
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 29 May 2019 13:50:58 +0000
Former House Speaker and re-elected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday denied he bribed his way into speakership in 2016.
Alvarez said he is also not being backed by big business in his bid to regain his old seat.
House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez has dared Alvarez to publicly reveal whether or not he resorted to bribery when he ran and won the top House post in 2016.
Suarez aired the challenge in reaction to Alvarez’s disclosure that speakership hopefuls are distributing P500,000 to P1 million to congressmen to win their vote in the speakership contest.
“No, I did not,” said Alvarez when asked if he did a similar vote-getting ploy when he ran for House Speaker.
Asked if he can identify who among his rivals are guilty of bribery, Alvarez said he expected none of them to admit it.
“Wala naman aamin eh,” he said.
Suarez did not contradict Alvarez’s bribery claim but said the former House Speaker should reveal more about it.
The House Minority Leader also noted that accusations of wrongdoing among congressmen will hurt the House’s public reputation.
Suarez is backing incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for House Speaker.
side from the bribery, the speakership race is also being marred with rumors of alleged intercession of big business that will stand to gain if their respective bet will emerge victorious in the speakership contest.
Alvarez said his bid for House Speaker is being supported by his allies, adding that he has never sought help from business moguls to finance his run. (Ben R. Rosario)