By BEN ROSARIO
Saying that the “pain lasted for only 24 hours,” former speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday called on PDP-Laban colleagues set aside political differences for the sake of party unity.
Alvarez, PDP-Laban secretary-general, insisted that he holds no ill feelings against partymates who abandoned him on July 23 to elect former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as speaker.
The former House leader addressed party colleagues at the PDP-Laban national leadership meeting that officials called following drawbacks brought about by the House of Representatives upheaval and the election of new party leaders of a group of alleged renegades.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, head of the PDP-Laban contingent in the Lower House, lauded Alvarez’s actions, noting that the former speaker demonstrated “political wisdom” that will further strengthen the most dominant political grop in the country.
“Congressman Alvarez told us that politics and friendship can be different. We may not agree on certain political beliefs but we must maintain friendship,” said Benitez.
At least 50 PDP-Laban congressmen showed up at the party caucuse held at a Quezon City hotel. Also present were at least 110 other national leaders headed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, party president.
But while Alvarez claimed he is no longer hurting from what appeared to be a betrayal of partymates, his actions betrayed his statements.
The former House leader will no longer reconsider his decision to abandon the super majority which he created. Alvarez declared he has joined the minority faction headed by ABS Partylist Rep. Eugene Michael De Vera.
Two of 14 senior congressmen who followed Alvarez’s lead in bolting the super majority and in joining De Vera have changed their minds and were received back to the majority bloc by Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr.
