Cayetano: I won’t block hearings on anti-political dynasty bills

Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (Photo from an RTVM video)

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said Monday he would not derail congressional hearings on anti-political dynasty bills while also insisting that there are good political clans.

“Hindi ko pipigilan ‘yung debate diyan at kung ‘yan ang will ng Congress bakit po hindi? But ako ever since ang stand ko: May good dynasty at may bad dynasty,” Cayetano said in an interview with radio DZMM.

[I won’t stop the debates about that, and if that is the will of Congress, why not. But ever since, my stand has been: There are good dynasties and there are bad dynasties.]

“Ang Amerika at [mga] Hapon wala silang anti-dynasty pero maunlad sila. But having said that, kung magkakaroon ng groundswell of support bakit hindi,” he added.

[America and Japan have no anti-dynasty laws, but they’re progressive. But having said that, if there will a groundswell of support for such a bill, why not.]

In July, President Rodrigo Duterte, while sharing the stage with Cayetano, jokingly asked when would the family’s dynasty end. In the same speech, Duterte also acknowledged that his family has its own political dynasty in his hometown Davao City.

READ: Duterte to Cayetanos: ‘Kailan kaya matapos ang dynasty niyo?’

Cayetano is the representative of Taguig’s 1st District, while his wife Lani, the city’s former mayor, was representative of Taguig’s 2nd District. Cayetano’s sister, Pia, is a senator.

In November 2018, a disqualification case was lodged against him and his wife, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sided with the couple.

READ: Comelec junks plea vs Alan Peter Cayetano’s House bid

Reacting to this, Cayetano said they had served Taguig City “with all honesty” and with credible qualifications.

“Tanggalin mo ‘yung Cayetano, are we not both qualified? Have we not both served Taguig with all honesty? Kami ba may kasalanan sa bayan, di ba?” he said.

[Disregard the name Cayetano: Are we not both qualified? Have we not both served Taguig with all honesty? Have we done something wrong to the country?]

“If you take out Cayetano, people in the second district still love Lani. You take out Cayetano in the first district, so far, for the last 27 years maganda relationship ko,” he added.

Two bills prohibiting political dynasties have been filed in the House by Reps. Lawrence Fortun and Rodante Marcoleta (House Bill Nos. 110 and 145).

/atm