Pantaleon Álvarez



Pantaleon "Bebot" Diaz Alvarez (born January 10, 1958) is a Filipino politician and the current Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and represents the 1st District of Davao del Norte, the Philippines.

From 2001 to 2002, he was acting Secretary of Transportation and Communications.

Early life and education
Alvarez was born on January 10, 1958. In 1978, he obtained a bachelor of arts degree from Far Eastern University, majoring in political science. He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1983.

Career
Alvarez was in private law practice from 1984 to 1986. From 1987 to 1992, he was a member of the staff of Philippine Senator Wigberto Tañada. He then became an action officer at the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). From action officer, he rose through the ranks, becoming senior assistant manager and chief operating officer of MIAA in March 1995, a position he held until September 1997.

In 1998, he was elected congressman from Davao del Norte's First District. He served as vice-chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Communication and was a member of nine other congressional committees.

In January 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him acting Secretary of Transportation and Communications, where he served until July 2002. Among Alvarez's achievements were the adoption of the light railway expansion program, improvement of the Philippine National Railway, and computerization of the department and attached agencies. He also spearheaded the slogan "OKS na OKS sa DOTC" which means "Organisado, Kalinisan at Seguridad".

In 2005, Alvarez along with four other former DOTC officials where charged with graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the construction of NAIA Terminal 3. In 2010, the charges were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division due to lack of evidence.

Issues
Alvarez was an advocate for the secession of all of Mindanao from the Philippines.

Personal life
Alvarez's daughter Paola is the current PDP-Laban spokesperson as well as in the Department of Finance.