Alan seeks talks with Koko on committee chairmanships

DAVAO CITY—Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Sunday said he would seek a continuous dialogue with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to discuss not only the Senate presidency but also the committee chairmanships in the new leadership in the 17th Congress.

Cayetano told reporters that he was more concerned with the more crucial issue of who will head sensitive committees in the upper chamber, which he said could “obstruct” the legislative agenda of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, including federalism and the revival of death penalty.

“Senator Koko and I will continue to dialogue and to talk. But kailangan may common denominator kami which is ‘yung mandate ng Pangulo to deliver to the people. This will not happen kung ‘yung chairman mo ng human rights committee e ayaw ng death penalty eh ‘di hindi niya itutulak ‘yung batas. This will not happen kung ‘yung chairman mo ng justice is now saying, wala pa ngang ginagawa ‘yung mga pulis, iimbestigahan namin kayo,” Cayetano said in a chance interview during the launch of a Philippine National Police Academy coffee table book at Abreeza Mall in this city.

According to Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, senators-elect Panfilo Lacson and Leila de Lima were expected to head the committees on public order and justice, respectively. Both Lacson and De Lima vowed to fight government abuses no matter what after Duterte warned lawmakers not to stand on his way in his all-out fight against criminality.

Cayetano said the senators were right in saying that no one can stop the Senate from conducting investigations, but added that “no one should also use the Senate to block the President’s good platforms.”

“In the past, committees have also been used to instigate insurgencies sa administration. This should not happen now kasi very clear ang mandate sa tao… I think through a dialogue maiintindihan ni Senator Koko ‘yung mga sinasabi ko, kasi hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman n’yo na mas matagal ako sa House ’tsaka sa Senate. I’ve been in a lot of crisis situations. Yung mga ibang mga plotters ngayon nakita ko na ‘yan during Erap’s time, during GMA’s time. So I will be there to help and protect the President. Hindi ako papayag na gamitin ang Senado para wasakin ang plataporma ng Pangulo,” he said.

“Nung tinignan ko ‘yung distribution ng committee, hindi maitutulak ang maraming gusto ng Pangulo—sa salita, sinasabi ng ibang senador we are supporting him, pero… ngayon pa lang ramdam mo na hindi nila [suportado] ang itutulak ng Pangulo,” Cayetano added.

While saying that he was not yet giving up his bid for the Senate presidency, Duterte’s defeated running mate said the dialogue would focus on forming a majority that would back the incoming administration’s legislative agenda.

“Ako, I don’t have to have the position. Gusto kong mag-succeed ang Pangulo… So near yet so far ang usapan namin ni Senator Koko kasi [magiging] hipokrito kami pareho ni Senator Koko kung pareho namin sasabihin na hindi namin gusto. Gusto namin,” he said.

Cayetano noted that Duterte respects the Senate’s independence, but noted that even the incoming President was “smart enough to know” that the body can be used as a “tool to obstruct” his vision.

“Senator Koko and I will continue to dialogue but it’s not just about the Senate presidency, but the majority of senators who will support the President. And as of now wala pang Senate majority kung titignan mo ‘yung chairmanships and ‘yung pagsasama. In fact it is very critical of the President and can turn obstructive in time,” he said.

If he would be Senate president, Cayetano said he would rather choose Pimentel as chair of the committee on justice and Sen. JV Ejercito as head of the committee on public order owing to their experiences.

“For example, Senator Koko will be the best chairman of the committee on justice, dati na niyang hinawakan ‘yan. Balansado siya… Unlike Senator Leila, wala pa ngang nangyayari sasabihin killings are killings. That’s not true. Merong killing for self-defense, merong killing na murder. Masama ang murder. Pero ‘yung mga pulis na protektahan ang sarili nila hindi masama ‘yun,” Cayetano said.

“For public order, personally I’d rather have JV Ejercito, someone who was mayor, someone who understands and will also be supportive of both the police and ‘yung style ng Pangulo, rather than someone na ngayon pa lang pinag-uusapan na kung legal yan o iligal ‘yan,” he added.

But other than a “clash of ideas,” Cayetano said he had “nothing personal” against Lacson and de Lima, who only had “different view on how to run the government.”

“Sinasabi nila walang makakapigil sa Senado. Bakit, sino ba ang pumipigil sa Senado? Pero kung pipigilin mo ang platporma ng Pangulo, ibang usapan ‘yun,” he said.

“Wala naman talagang makakapigil sa Senado na mag-imbestiga. Wala rin naman sa Saligang-Batas na linggu-linggo eh mag-imbestiga o wala pa ngang ginagawa ang mga pulis eh mag-iimbestiga ka na,” Cayetano added.

Pimentel and incumbent Senate President Franklin both claimed that the incoming Senate leader has the support of at least 17 of 24 senators.