Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio "Tony Boy" Floirendo Jr. on Wednesday belied reports that he is plotting to oust House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez after an alleged rift between the them.

Alvarez has asked the Ombudsman to investigate Floirendo for graft and called for a congressional inquiry into the joint venture agreement between Floirendo's Tagum Agricultural Development Company (Tadeco) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The Speaker's move came weeks after reports alleged that Floirendo has been talking to several House members to place former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Alvarez's replacement.

"I never attempted to talk to Arroyo nor would I ever support any plot to oust Speaker Alvarez who, in the first place, is a good friend of mine and whom I fully supported during the last election and in his bid for the Speakership," Floirendo said in a statement.

The Davao del Norte representative admitted that he was "hurt" by Alvarez's actions, and that has tried to "reach out" but got no response from his partymate.

"But that's politics. What is important is that I know deep down my conscience that I have not done anything wrong nor have I committed any criminal act," Floirendo said.

A newspaper report, however, said the rift between Alvarez and Floirendo started in October last year when their girlfriends quarreled during the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Alvarez earlier admitted there was a spat involving the 2 women. Floirendo neither confirmed nor denied the report.

"Let me make it clear that Speaker Bebot and I have no fight with each other. If ever there is a conflict, it could be likened to a brotherly misunderstanding which I am sure would be patched up in no time at all," Floirendo said.