Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Pepito Alvarez rushed to the Senate on Thursday and denied allegations after his name was mentioned in a hearing conducted by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta regarding the alleged flood control scandal, where he was accused of receiving suitcases of money.
Alvarez’s sudden appearance at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee came after supposed 18 former Marines included his name in a sworn affidavit alleging that several lawmakers received “suitcases of money.” The lawmaker was specifically linked to claims involving former congressman Zaldy Co.
The congressman went directly to a Senate news conference hosted by Cayetano and Marcoleta after the ex-Marines had already left. He strongly denied all accusations against him.
“Nung nakita ko sa Facebook na nandito ang mga sundalo, sana naabutan ko, wala naman masama na mag-usap. Tatanungin ko sana kung sa akin ba nila ibinigay yung maleta, Nabanggit ang pangalan ko, kawawa naman pamilya ko, hinahanap sa akin ang maleta eh. Wala naman ako sama ng loob kaya lang, siyempre takbo agad dito,” Alvarez said.
“I vehemently deny that meron po akong natanggap. Walang utang si Zaldy Co sa akin, wala din akong utang sa kanya. Wala kaming transaksyon na maaari ko siyang bigyan o maaari niya akong bigyan ng pera,” he added.
He acknowledged knowing Co in a professional capacity but stressed that neither of them owed anything to the other.
“Ang katotohanan wala akong natanggap, wala silang dinala sa akin na maleta,” he emphasized.
Alvarez said he felt compelled to respond publicly due to the impact of the allegations on his family, noting that his name being associated with the supposed “suitcase” had caused confusion and reputational harm.
He also said that he may have been included in the affidavit after he allegedly declined a request related to an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to Alvarez, he was approached by former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor asking him to endorse an impeachment complaint against Marcos.
However, he said he declined Defensor's request.
“Mahirap man akong magsabi ng motibo, ngunit siguro may kinalaman doon sa pinadala sa akin ni Mike Defensor — nandito po ba si Mike? Si Mike Defensor nagpadala sa akin ng impeachment ni Pangulo, ako ‘yong unang, nandito sa cellphone ko, gusto niyong makita?
“Pagkatapos, pinadala sa akin, na kung maaari daw i-endorso ko, eh no’ng hindi ko inendorso bigla na lang akong nagkapangalan dito. Hindi ko sinasabi na ano ah,” said Alvarez.
‘Mabuhay ka Congressman Jose Alvarez po, si Margarette ito’ — hindi ko kilala kung sino itong Margarette nagpadala sa akin. ‘I’m writing on behalf of Congressman Mike Defensor, to request for your endorsement of impeachment complaint against PBBM for graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. Your principled stance’ — binola pa ako — ‘on accountability makes you an ideal endorse,” he added, reading an alleged message sent to him by a woman named Margarette, who introduced herself as acting on behalf of Defensor.
“We respectfully request for your public endorsement to strengthen this effort and uphold the rule of law. Attached is the complaint for your review, thank you for your consideration. Hello po, will you endorse?’ Ang sagot ko ‘no, sorry.’ Hindi ko pa nga binabasa eh, pinapa-endorse na kaagad sa akin,” he said.
He added that he received a message requesting his endorsement, which he also refused, and later found himself mentioned in the affidavit submitted by the former Marines.
“Sunod non, kasama na po ako dito sa Marines. Pero I can say categorically wala po akong tinanggap na maleta galing kay Zaldy Co, dahil wala namang utang si Zaldy Co sa akin, wala rin akong utang sa kanya,” he noted.
