House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin on Monday urged former Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez to focus on contributing to solutions for the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), rather than calling for the resignation of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a press release from the House of Representatives said.
“Maybe it would be a good contribution by the former Speaker to put forward solutions? Because that (call for) resignation will not really solve the problem,” Garin said during a press conference at the House of Representatives.
Alvarez, currently representing the first district of Davao del Norte province in Congress, previously suggested that President Marcos should resign supposedly to ease tensions in the WPS.
This proposition was viewed by House leaders as a “thinly veiled attempt to expedite Vice President Sara Duterte’s ascent to the presidency, capitalizing on their shared pro-China stance.”
Garin questioned the rationale behind Alvarez’s call for resignation, noting the existing processes such as the power of Filipinos to remove officials through elections or impeachment.
She emphasized that calling for resignation might not be the best solution, particularly without identifying specific shortcomings.
Garin said that resolving complex issues such as the WPS cannot be achieved overnight by a single president.
However, she expressed optimism about the progress made and underscored the significance of the Marcos administration’s unwavering commitment to protecting the nation’s territory.
She also emphasized the long-standing nature of the WPS issue, citing its significance not only for the Philippines and China but also for several other countries.
Garin said the conflict also involves Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Malaysia, all staking claims in the region.*
