Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (File photo)
MANILA – Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said he is for cooperation and unity as he works with the next administration, but he will not hesitate to make criticisms if he sees something wrong.
Cayetano, who is among the top 12 candidates in the senatorial race, said while he would cooperate with the next President after a particularly divisive campaign period, this does not mean "one should follow blindly".
“The spirit of unity is not conformity," he said in a media interview. "Ibig sabihin, mulat dapat tayo sa lahat ng ating papasukin. Dapat open ang lahat sa suggestions (That means, we have to be critically aware of everything that we undertake. Everyone should be open to suggestions)."
The former Speaker said should he return to the Senate, he will cooperate with the next President if it is for the good of Filipinos but will not hesitate to speak up if he sees something wrong.
Cayetano is currently at the seventh spot in the senatorial race according to the partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Wherever I’m needed, I’ll help. ‘Pag tama (If everything is right), either I’ll be quiet or I’ll help. Pero kapag may mali, maaasahan ng ating mga kababayan [na tututol ako] (But if there is something wrong, Filipinos are guaranteed that I will be there to oppose it),” he said.
Cayetano cited his strong opposition to e-sabong which had the support of most members of Congress and which President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself initially did not ban.
It was only a week before the May 9 elections that Duterte announced that all e-sabong operations would stop.
Cayetano cited Lee Kuan Yew, a statesman who served as Prime Minister of Singapore between 1959 and 1990, as an example of working with a variety of leaders but not tolerating wrongdoing even among his friends.
The partial and unofficial tally in the presidential race consistently points to an overwhelming win for Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with more than 31 million votes, more than double the lead against Vice President Leni Robredo with 14.8 million, based on the 98.26 percent of election returns processed. (PNA)
