Floirendo accuses ex-pal Alvarez of causing zero budget for his projects in Davao Del Norte

Davao del Norte Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. on Thursday criticized Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for causing the second congressional district of their province to get no allocation for projects under the 2018 national budget.

Alvarez is the representative of the first district of Davao del Norte; Floirendo, the second.

Floirendo, the biggest contributor to the 2016 campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte, accused Alvarez of engaging in "political vendetta."

Both Duterte allies, Alvarez and Floirendo had a falling out earlier this year.

The congressman said Alvarez's move showed the "shady intention" of the House leader and how he had "looked down" on the residents of Davao del Norte, sacrificing their needs in order to bring him down.

"I am not an opposition. This is more of a political vendetta," Floirendo said.

GMA News Online has asked for Alvarez's comment on Floirendo's statement but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

The rift between Alvarez and Floirendo  went public after Alvarez filed a resolution seeking the inquiry into the BuCor-TADECO deal.

Alvarez also lodged a graft complaint against Floirendo for alleged “financial and pecuniary interest” over his links to TADECO and the Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR), which his family owns.

The rift allegedly stemmed out of two issues, including speculations that Floirendo was leading a plot to unseat Alvarez and clear the speakership for former President and incumbent Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Floirendo had denied this, while Arroyo said she was “not interested” to be speaker.

The fall-out was also supposedly triggered by a fight between Floirendo’s long-time partner and Alvarez’s girlfriend, an incident confirmed by the former.

The issue led Alvarez to admit that he has had children and relationships outside his marriage.

Floirendo said Alvarez's action only showed that he was willing to sacrifice the welfare of Davao del Norte residents so he could hit back at him.

"This kind of leadership is not only a great disservice to the electorate who voted him into position; it has also become a liability in the Duterte administration, whose main agenda is on pro-people initiatives," he said.

This "big" setback, however, will not hinder Floirendo to deliver on his promises to his constituents, he said.

"Surely, there are other sources of funds for well-meant projects and I am sure that there are people in government who firmly believe the bringing public services to the people cannot be taken hostage by callous politicians," Floirendo said.

"That my constituents have stood for me amid the persecution maliciously imputed on me, is enough consolation that my mandate in my district is inflexibly respected by the people who have reposed their trust on me," he added. —NB, GMA News