Former House Speaker and reelected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has disclosed that two of his fellow contenders for the speakership have supposedly dangled cash at lawmakers in a bid to secure votes.
Without dropping names, Alvarez claimed that a contender for the speakership supposedly offered P500,000 per congressman. The offer was allegedly countered by another camp with P1 million per congressman.
Alvarez, who is vying for the speakership in the upcoming 18th Congress, said that the information was relayed to him by his “colleagues.”
He claimed that once the solon gets the money, he or she would have to sign a manifesto of support for that particular speakership bet.
Alvarez said this kind of system to determine the next House Speake has disheartened him.
“Nawawalan din ako ng gana dahil nga pagkaganyan, siyempre, obviously, mayroon talagang funder yan, di ba dahil ang laking pera,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez vowed not to resort to the same just to increase his chances of getting the post. “Such dubious methods as vote-buying would compromise the Speaker’s position,” he said. (PNA)