Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and House Speaker Lord Alan Jay Velasco (right)
By Junex Doronio
ANILA — To his critics, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is just bitter but it seems the former Speaker is bent to be better, this time, in projecting himself as a presidential material next year although he would rather talk about his new coalition “BTS sa Kongreso” or Back To Service in Congress.
On Friday, January 15, Cayetano’s ally Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte claimed that their group was only formed because they “want the best for the Filipino people” when the chamber has transformed into a “House of politics” under Lord Allan Jay Velasco of Marinduque.
Cayetano also noted that with his new pro-administration bloc, there is already a “smear campaign” against them allegedly by allies of the current Speaker.
“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,” said the runningmate of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the 2016 presidential polls.
The Taguig-Pateros lawmaker also belied rumors that he would like to take back the Speakership of the lower chamber.
“Sa inyong sa inyo na ang speakership. isaksak n’yo pa sa baga n’yo, no problem sa amin. Hindi ‘yun ‘yung issue dito,” Cayetano quipped.
The BTS sa Kongreso members are Villafuerte, Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.
But Velasco’s allies laughed off what they call a “cheap publicity stunt” and “political gimmickry” of Cayetano who was unseated in what appeared to be a coup in the House of Representatives.
Senior Deputy Speaker Salvador “Doy” Leachon assailed Cayetano for his “baseless and unfair tirades” against the leadership of Velasco.
“Sino ba ang talagang namumulitika? Sino ba ang hindi maka-move-on? Sino ba ang bitter?,” Leachon asked, apparently referring to the ousted Speaker. (AI/MTVN)
