Cayetano reveals report of threats vs politicians standing in way of BBL passage
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano bared receiving intelligence information that certain politicians “would have to be sacrificed” to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
Cayetano, who withdrew his support for the BBL, said his sources also informed him of a “possible threat” to his life.
READ: Alan Cayetano says he has more on MILF
Speaking at a weekly forum in the Senate on Thursday, the senator said he received information that “there are politicians, or a politician in particular and politicians in general that have to be sacrificed for the BBL to be passed.”
The information, he said, was contained in two separate reports —one containing the name of a specific politician.
“I really don’t want to talk about it, except that we are aware and I’m being informed, and let me just say that the authorities without saying what agency of government is doing their job, and I thank them for that despite the fact that I’m not towing the administration’s line, they informed me officially of a possible threat,” Cayetano said.
He said he was taking the threat seriously since he said his exposes are now targeted at an organization with lost command, apparently referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF,) which he has been criticizing after the January 25 Mamasapano operation that left 44 elite policemen dead.
The incident prompted the senator to withdraw his support for the BBL.
READ: Cayetano against BBL, says MILF to boost army that can threaten Republic
“As I said, when I went into this mas takot ako sa Diyos, mas takot akong mawala ang Mindanao sa atin o magkagyera e. Lahat naman nang gagawin natin may risk. Ang kaibahan lang kasi dati ang ating mga exposes are against specific people, so at least kontrolado ang tao nila whether it was FG, whether it was VP Binay, whether it was Senator Enrile. Pero ngayon organization kasi ito e, may lost command…” said the senator.
(As I said, when I went into this, I had a bigger fear of God, I was more scared of the Philippines losing Mindanao or waging into war. We face risks in everything we do. The only difference is, before, we would make exposes against specific people, so at least we can control their people, whether it was (against) FG, VP Binay or Senator Enrile.) But now, I am facing off with an organization that has lost command.)
Cayetano was referring to former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Vice President Jejomar Binay and detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, whom he had either engaged in verbal tussle or accused of corruption.
Asked if he already beefed up his security amid possible threats, the senator said it was recommended by an agency that informed him about the threat but he was still thinking about it. ID
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