Pantaleon Alvarez is a Filipino politician who has served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2016 to 2018. As Speaker, he was accused of prejudicial policy making by withholding infrastructure funds from representatives who did not support President Duterte's plans. He was also declared persona non grata by his own party, PDP-Laban, for violating the party's constitution. Additionally, Alvarez and other former DOTC officials were charged with graft for their involvement in the controversial NAIA Terminal 3 project, although the charges were later dismissed.

1. 18th Congress of the
Philippines
Cong. Pantaleon Alvarez

2. Pantaleon Alvarez
• Pantaleon Diaz Alvarez (born January 10, 1958) is a Filipino
politician serving as the Representative of Davao del Norte's 1st
district since 2016, previously holding the position from 1998 to
2001.[2] 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.

3. • He is a stern advocate to shift the current centralized set-up of the
Philippines into a federal form, pushing for the establishment of an
indigenous state in Luzon and an indigenous state in Mindanao.
Initially in favor of an independent Mindanao, Alvarez changed
stance when Rodrigo Duterte talked about a federal Philippines
with him. In 2017, Alvarez proposed a new set-up to
spearheaded federalism in the Philippines.

4. Early life and education
• Alvarez was born on January 10, 1958. 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.

5. 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). From action
officer, he rose through the ranks, becoming senior assistant
manager and chief operating officer of MIAA in March 1995, a
position he held until September 1997.

6. • In 1998, he was elected congressman from Davao del Norte's 1st
District. He served as vice-chairman of the House Committee on
Transportation and Communication and was a member of nine
other congressional committees.

7. • In January 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him
acting Secretary of Transportation and Communications, where he
served until July 2002.[1][3][4] Among Alvarez's achievements were
the adoption of the light railway expansion program, improvement
of the Philippine National Railway, and computerization of the
department and attached agencies.[5] He also spearheaded the
slogan "OKS na OKS sa DOTC" which means "Organisado,
Kalinisan at Seguridad"

8. • In 2016, he was once again elected congressman from Davao del
Norte's 1st District. On the opening of the 17th Congress on July
25, he was elected as the 24th Speaker of the House of
Representatives with 251 votes.[7] On July 23, 2018, he was ousted
as Speaker and was replaced by Pampanga Representative Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo.
• Alvarez was re-elected as congressman in 2019 and in 2022. On
November 15, 2020, he tendered his "irrevocable resignation"
from PDP–Laban and joined the Reporma Party.

9. Issues
• 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 Pesos. When asked about the
welfare of those regions which will be negatively affected by the reallocation of the
budget, Alvarez was unapologetic and told the affected citizens in the regions to
blame their representatives for the retaliatory budget cuts. Various members of the
House of Representatives were alarmed and pointed out the dictatorial and vengeful
nature of the Duterte administration and the alacrity in the leadership of Alvarez in
perpetuating it.

10. • Alvarez has threatened congressmen and various governmental agencies
that they would receive zero budget if they didn't support Rodrigo
Duterte's plans to supplant the Republic of the Philippines by
implementing PDP–Laban's Federal form of Government. Alvarez stated
that he did not care whether the provinces, agencies and local
governments affected by his budget cuts would suffer and told the people
to blame their representatives instead who refused to follow what Duterte
wanted. Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. warned Alvarez that
"nobody stays in power forever", insinuating that Alvarez would receive
his just deserts after his blatant abuse of power and authority.

11. "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. There were also reports that the new politicians that Alvarez recruited are "narco-
politicians", involved in illegal drugs manufacturing and trafficking. Senate President Aquilino
"Koko" Pimentel III, PDP–Laban's president, however, denied the reports that Alvarez is
persona-non-grata despite the numerous PDP–Laban members disdain for Alvarez and his
insubordinate actions which violated PDP–Laban's own constitution and by-laws. Pimentel
retaliated against Garcia and Cuntapay by ordering them silenced or be disciplined. Alvarez
stated that "grumbling members" should either leave or he will "take care" of them.

12. Alleged Graft in PIATCO-Fraport NAIA
3 deal
• In 2005, Alvarez along with four other former DOTC officials were charged with
graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the construction of NAIA
Terminal 3. In 2010, the charges were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan Special
Second Division due to lack of evidence.[1][15][4][16]
• Pantaleon Alvarez allegedly used information gained by his position to preempt
the bidding process by creating a company called Wintrack which the board
awarded a major sub-contract for the project's site development and excavation
work. Alvarez and other member of the Piatco and Fraport became board
members of Wintrack, benefiting and amassing profits from the deal. The
staggering income gotten by Wintrack from the deal has prompted the
Ombudsman to file a case of graft against Alvarez and his cohorts.