Duterte ribs Alvarez foe Floirendo: 'You seem to be at peace already'

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday quipped about the rift between Davao del Norte Representative Antonio "Tonyboy" Floirendo and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

There were speculations that Floirendo was among those who led the plot to unseat Alvarez and clear the speakership for former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Alvarez, also a Davao del Norte representative, was replaced by Arroyo on July 23, the day of the President's third State of the Nation Address.

"[Tonyboy?], you seem to be at peace already," Duterte said, drawing laughter from those who attended the convention of regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Davao City. 

"Pumunta ba si Bebot [Alvarez] dito? Wala?"

Floirendo and Alvarez, both Duterte allies, had a falling out last year.

Alvarez filed graft charges against Floirendo, accusing him of having financial interest in the land deal entered into by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and banana exporter Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. (TADECO) while serving as lawmaker.

Floirendo is now on trial for graft at the Sandiganbayan. —JST, GMA News