‘Isaksak n’yo sa baga n’yo’: Cayetano vows his new bloc not after speakership

MANILA, Philippines — Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said the new coalition he formed in the House of Representatives, dubbed “BTS sa Kongreso,” is not after the lower chamber’s leadership.

Cayetano issued this explanation in a press conference for the formal launch of his new bloc, while he claimed there is already a “smear campaign” against them allegedly by allies of the current Speaker, Marinduque 1st District Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

“Pero ang advice ko sa kanila, makinig muna bago kayo mag-comment. Kung makikita niyo ang aming questions about vaccination, about presyo ng bilihin, about Bayanihan 1 and 2,” Cayetano said.

(My advice to them, listen first before you comment. If you will see our questions, it’s about vaccination, about prices of goods, about Bayanihan 1 and 2.)

“Sa inyong sa inyo na ang speakership. isaksak n’yo pa sa baga n’yo, no problem sa amin. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung issue dito,” he added.

(The speakership is yours, you can shove it down your throats, no problem with us. That’s not the issue here.)

“Ang issue dito ay naghihirap ‘yung tao (The issue here is that the people are suffering).”

But Velasco’s allies are not buying what they call a “cheap publicity stunt” and “political gimmickry” of Cayetano.

“This is an obvious publicity stunt and gimmickry from someone who’s trying to revive his political career, which suffered a major setback after an overwhelming majority of House members ousted him from the top House post three months ago,” Deputy Speaker and Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Salvador “Doy” Leachon said in a statement.

Leachon also criticized Cayetano for his “baseless and unfair tirades” against Velasco and his brand of leadership.

“Sino ba ang talagang namumulitika? Sino ba ang hindi maka-move-on? Sino ba ang bitter?” Leachon asked.

Cayetano previously said he and his closest allies would launch a new “independent” group named after the worldwide K-pop sensation BTS.

READ: ‘A.R.M.Y’ warn Cayetano: ‘BTS’ is trademarked

This coalition is composed of Cayetano, Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez, Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro, and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Raneo Abu.

Villafuerte, Fernandez, Defensor, Sy-Alvarado, Castro, and Abu were all stripped of their House panel chairmanship posts when Velasco assumed the speakership in October last year.

READ: Making it official, House ratifies Velasco’s election as Speaker

Cayetano said his “BTS Sa Kongreso” is not an exclusive group.

“Now you can’t beat us because we’re speaking for the people but you’re free to join us, to come here and speak for the people, welcome kayo,” he said.

KGA