Senator Pia Cayetano. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was not “involved in any away” on the smear campaign against Senator Loren Legarda, his sister-senator said on Friday.
“Well I know my brother well. Our family, we have the same principle when it comes to that and other aspect of politics. We don’t engage in those things .
“So let’s leave it at that ,” Senator Pia Cayetano said at a press conference in Quezon City where he and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago endorsed the senatorial bid of former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros.
The three–Senators Alan Cayetano and Legarda, and Hontiveros–are all running under Team PNoy.
“I think the record will show na hindi kami na i-involve sa ganyan (that we are not involved in that). It’s just sad that this has to happen this way. Let’s stick to the issue. Alan is very supportive sa partymates and so am I,” Pia said .
Legarda had earlier hinted that a fellow candidate from Team PNoy could be behind the demolition job against her alleged failure to declare her Manhattan condominium unit in her statement of assets, liabilities and networth.
But Legarda, who has been consistently leading the various pre-senatorial surveys, did not identify the Team PNoy bet he was referring to.
Asked again if it was true that her bother was behind this exposé against Legarda, Pia Cayetano categorically denied this.
“I can tell you for sure that I know he’s not involved in anyway. In any of those issues, and even in his reaction, he was not saying anything, he has nothing to do with it,” she stressed.
Santiago said she was also surprised by Alan Cayetano was also being dragged into the controversy when she said there might be some other politicians, who would like to bring down Legarda.
Santiago said the media should find out who hired Legarda’s former PR man, who had a falling out with her and was probably getting back at her now.
“I also have my own theory about this but I’m not going to explain this in public because the burden of proof will be on me… There is possibly someone who’s trying to shave votes off Senator Legarda because she’s number one right now and he’s using this former PR man who used to work with Senator Legarda,” she explained.
“So what has Senator Alan got to do with it? I cannot understand. Just because he’s number 2, he’d like to topple the number one? All of them want to topple number one,” she said.
Asked if it was true that this PR man is working now with Senator Alan Cayetano, Santigo said, “Maybe he’s working for somebody else because my information is to the contrary. He’s working for somebody else who has an interest in the senatorial campaign right now,” she added.