The Quezon City Prosecutors Office has recommended the filing of libel case against Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon D. Alvarez over his accusation that Davao del Norte 2nd Dist. Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo Jr. is a “land grabber”.
According to a statement from the Floirendo camp, the filing of the charge against the erstwhile House Speaker is contained in a resolution approved April 26, 2019 by QC Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Dindo G. Venturanza by authority of the City Prosecutor. The resolution was penned by Assistant City Prosecutor Marizen B. Grutas.
The case stemmed from a March 21, 2018 press conference, wherein Alvarez stated before House reporters, “Hindi Floirendo apelyido ko para maging landgrabber.” Alvarez was commenting on a report that the then House Speaker went on a buying spree of P500 million worth of properties in Siargao Island.
Tonyboy also complained that Alvarez had no basis in accusing him of being behind the spreading of stories about his (Alvarez) land-buying spree in Surigao.
The defamatory remarks carried in print, TV and online media included remarks of Alvarez accusing the Floirendos as a family of land grabbers, as part of Alvarez’s deliberate effort to injure Floirendo’s reputation and character in the opinion of the people.
In his complaint, Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo charged that Rep. Bebot Alvarez attacked not just his reputation but also that of his father, Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. and the rest of his family– and that his father who is now deceased is unable to personally address and confront the allegations made against him by Alvarez.
In his defense, Alvarez maintained that he was only giving comments based on his personal knowledge on facts known to be true.
However, the prosecutor stated in the resolution that “given the acrimonious relationship of the parties (Alvarez and Floirendo), the motives of (Alvarez) in making such statements and that he has no actual malice in when he made the defamatory statement is highly suspect”.
In the resolution, Assistant City prosecutor Grutas recommended “that an information for Libel under Article 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code be filed against Pantaleon D. Alvarez.” AMA
