A congressional leader has questioned former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s moral authority to question ongoing attempts to amend the 1987 Constitution, citing the latter’s inconsistent stance on constitutional reforms.
At the same time, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez denounced Alvarez for unleashing “ruthless and unfounded attacks” against Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a staunch supporter of initiatives to amend the 37-year-old Charter.
“It’s perplexing to hear moral judgments from someone with such a fluctuating stance on constitutional change. Former Speaker Alvarez’s inconsistent positions raise valid questions about his moral ascendancy to criticize those currently advocating for reforms,” Suarez said in a statement.
He added: “One must wonder about the sincerity of these criticisms when they come from someone who, not too long ago, championed similar reforms. Moral ascendancy requires a consistent and principled stand, which seems to be lacking in this case.”
Suarez issued the statement in response to Alvarez’s series of media interviews where the former House chief declared opposition to amending the Constitution, particularly through people’s initiative, citing a lack of trust in the incumbent Speaker as the primary reason for his stance.
During his term as Speaker in 2017, Alvarez moved but failed in convening Congress into a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution and the shift to a federal form of government.
In March 2023, while representing Davao del Norte’s first district, Alvarez joined 301 congressmen in supporting Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 6, which calls for the establishment of a constitutional convention to amend the Charter.
Suarez noted that the shift in Alvarez’s stance could be attributed to the changing political landscape, where his role has notably diminished.
“It’s noteworthy to examine past statements and actions to understand the context of the current criticisms. We must ask ourselves if these concerns are genuinely rooted in principle or if they are a result of shifting political landscapes,” Suarez pointed out.
The lawmaker from Quezon province also responded to Alvarez’s harsh claims of a planned shift to a parliamentary system, where Romualdez is said to be aiming for the position of Prime Minister, chosen by parliamentary members.
“Rep. Alvarez’s attempts to undermine Speaker Romualdez are not just unfounded but reek of political opportunism. It’s time to set the record straight and expose these baseless attacks for what they are,” Suarez said.
“Speaker Romualdez has earned the trust and respect of his peers through unwavering commitment to public service. Rep. Alvarez’s attempts to tarnish this reputation without any factual basis are nothing short of a disgrace to honest political discourse,” he concluded.