THE House Committee on Ethics and Privileges gave Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez 10 days to answer a complaint filed against him.

Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, a member of the committee, said that on Thursday, the committee considered the complaint which was filed by Tagum Mayor Rey Uy and several others.

Bongalon said the complaint involved Alvarez's statement in a rally in April, his habitual absences in Congress, and allegedly libelous remarks.

He said that the committee found the complaint filed by Rey Uy sufficient in form and in content "and that is why the committee decided to send a notice to the office of Congressman Alvarez for him to answer these allegations within 10 days from receipt."

The notice was sent to Alvarez's office "through registered mail last Friday and also via electronic copy through the registered and official email address of Congressman Alvarez as well as his chief of staff," Bongalon said.

During a rally last month in Tagum City, Alvarez was said to have asked the military to peacefully withdraw its support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in order to force him to resign and prevent an escalation of the tension between the country and China in the West Philippine Sea.

The military rejected his call.

Alvarez later denied his statement was seditious, after several of his colleagues at the House of Representatives had criticized his call.

He had asked for understanding for being passionate, saying it was because he loved the country so much, and that Malacañang was dragging it to war.

He said his statement was covered by the Constitution's freedom of speech clause and could not be considered seditious under the Revised Penal Code or disorderly conduct based on House rules.