Pantaleon Alvarez

Pantaleon Diaz Alvarez (born January 10, 1958) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the Representative of Davao del Norte's 1st district from 2016 to 2025, previously holding the position from 1998 to 2001. He served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. He also served as the Secretary of Transportation and Communications in the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2002.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Alvarez was born on January 10, 1958 to Eliseo Alvarez and Nicolasa Diaz. In 1978, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree from Far Eastern University. He then studied law and graduated from the Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1983.^[1]

Political career

Alvarez was in private law practice from 1984 to 1986. From 1987 to 1992, he was a member of the staff of Philippine Senator Wigberto Tañada. He then became an action officer at the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).^[1]

Alleged Graft in PIATCO-Fraport NAIA 3 deal

In 2005, Alvarez along with four other former Department of Transportation and Communications officials were charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the construction of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. In 2010, the charges were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division due to lack of evidence.^[1]

Prejudicial policy making and leadership

In finalizing the General Appropriations Act of 2018, Alvarez and his allies deliberately withheld infrastructure funding from the members of the House of Representatives who they found "undesirable". Alvarez stated that it was unfair for the members who cooperated with him and the President to receive funding less than those representatives. The total amount of funds reallocated to cooperative members was suspected to amount to ₱11 billion.^[1]

"Persona Non-Grata" in PDP–Laban

In August 2017, Alvarez was declared "Persona Non Grata" by his own party mates in PDP–Laban, Rogelio Garcia and Cesar Cuntapay, stating that Alvarez actions in reorganizing the party nationwide without authority and recruiting new members in exchange for favors severely damaged the party's credibility and Duterte's own legitimacy in his war against drugs. Benito Ranque, PDP–Laban deputy secretary general, states that the new members are not even educated or informed of the party's constitution and by-laws, in support of Cuntapay's accusations.^[1]

Martial law in Mindanao

Alvarez was an advocate for the secession of all of Mindanao from the Philippines.^[1]

Abolition of Court of Appeals

Alvarez has threatened to dissolve the Court of Appeals and to disbar CA Special Fourth Division, Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonino-Valenzuela, for granting the habeas corpus petition of six Ilocos Norte officials under their custody for the investigation regarding the "Tobacco Funds" issue. Alvarez in a radio interview said, “They are not even our co-equal branch… They are merely a creation of Congress—that Court of Appeals. They only exist because they were created by Congress.^[1]

Marriage dissolution bill

Alvarez, along with 14 co-authors, had formally filed House Bill No. 6027, titled "An Act Providing for Grounds for the Dissolution of a Marriage". The bill lists irreconcilable differences or severe and chronic unhappiness causing the "irreparable breakdown of marriage" as the possible grounds for its dissolution.^[1]

Influence peddling and "imbecile" Facebook post

A customs official accused Alvarez of peddling influence at the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Mandy Anderson, a BOC official, said that Alvarez had been using his position as a lawmaker to urge BOC commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to appoint Alvarez's recommendations. The accusation came after Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas scolded Anderson at a congressional hearing due to a Facebook status message wherein Anderson called Alvarez an "imbecile" for threatening to dissolve the Court of Appeals.^[1]