You can call us names or “bully” us for as long as we know that what we are doing is right.
This was how Senator Alan Peter Cayetano shrugged off on Friday Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s statement that some senators are “apologists” of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Cayetano insisted that the President is just doing what needs to be done “for all Filipinos, not for any single family, party, group or interest.”
“Call us names, bully us and do your [worst]…it’s [okay]. We know (that) we’re doing what is right for GOD and country,” he said in a text message.
The senator was Duterte’s vice presidential candidate in the last May elections but he lost to incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo.
During Thursday’s forum at the Senate, Trillanes expressed dismay at some of his colleagues, who he said had turned a blind eye on the alleged human rights abuses being committed under the present administration.
He called them the President’s apologists “trying to covet and offer alibis” for him.
“Sa akin naiintindihan ko pa kung quiet ka lang at tinatantya mo yun situation, maiintindihan ko pa yun. Pero to be an apologist, ibang level yun,” Trillanes said.
“It’s either sumisipsip ka or natatakot ka na ma-file-an ng kaso, or worse, you actually believe na tama yan,” he added.
(I would understand if you would just keep quiet and evaluating the situation, I would understand that. But to be an apologist, that’s another level.
(It’s either you are bootlicking or you are afraid a case would be filed against you, or worse, you actually believe [what you’re doing] is right.)
Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the “apologists” remark was “uncalled for” while Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito called it “absurd.” CDG/rga