Alvarez daughter breaks silence on dad’s rift with Floirendo

Finance Undersecretary Paola Alvarez has broken her silence on the controversy involving her father, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and long-time political ally, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr.

In a statement on Thursday, Paola said she and her family "are shocked that the spin on the issues has become so crass and juvenile. It is incredible how personal relationships are exploited by Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo's live-in partner, Ms. Cathy Binag, to twist an otherwise simple question of  facts. It's completely appalling!"

Paola did not directly address the issue of her father's alleged relationship with a girlfriend, saying instead that she and her family "prefer to keep our personal lives private despite my father, Speaker Bebot Alvarez, and I being in public service and we intend to leave it that way."

She then hoped that Binag "will respect that and stop dragging us into her personal issues."

The younger Alvarez admitted, however, that her family is hurt that the Speaker's "longstanding and cherished friendship with Rep. Floirendo is heading this way."

She added that she and her family expects "the parties concerned to address the factual issues head-on. After all, in public service public interest is paramount and goes beyond the deepest bonds of friendship." — RSJ, GMA News