The Makabayan bloc is daring former House Speaker, reelected Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, to give more details regarding his shocking claim that P500,000 to P1 million are being offered to congressmen in exchange for their votes for the speakership.
“Ang hamon namin kay dating Speaker Alvarez, magdetalye na kayo…Hindi dapat ito manatili sa level ng allegation,” said ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio during the bloc’s press conference yesterday.
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ito. Kailangan ng taumbayan ng buong paliwanag at kailangang panagutin ang dapat managot kung totoo ito,” he added.
Tinio said that graft and corruption charges should be slapped on the aspiring House Speakers who bribe their colleagues.
Alvarez, who is vying for the speakership in the upcoming 18th Congress, bared in an interview that two of his fellow contenders for the speakership have supposedly dangled cash at lawmakers in a bid to secure votes.
He further claimed that once the solon gets the money, he or she would have to sign a manifesto of support for that particular speakership bet.
“Yes it’s possible, most likely may ganyang nangyayari,” Tinio commented.
“In the past yung mga naririnig namin na ganyan, hindi ganyan kalaki yung mga amounts na involved. Yun yung isang parang bago,” the militant lawmaker further said. He did not give an example of the supposed “past offers.”
Tinio said that Alvarez’s allegation was “highly immoral, unethical, and illegal,” thus, had to be taken seriously.
While there are a handful of speaker-wannabes, the three strongest contenders are believed to be incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, incoming Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, and reelected Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.
Romualdez is believed to have over half of the support of the 304-member House come the start of the 18th Congress come July, while the Cayetano and Velasco are banking mostly on their closeness with President Duterte. (Ellson Quismorio)