Cayetano denies insinuating romantic link between Enrile, Gigi Reyes

Published January 25, 2013 3:29pm

(Updated 4:56 p.m.) Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday denied that he had insinuated any romatic link between Senate Juan Ponce Enrile and lawyer Gigi Reyes, the Senate leader's chief of staff.

At a press briefing, Cayetano said: "I didn't link him [Enrile] romantically or anything like that. Lumabas na lang yun, it took a life on its own."

Reyes was dragged into the controversy when Cayetano, during his privilege speech on Wednesday, questioned her clout over Senate operations.

"Tempted po talaga ako Mr. President na sumagot, tempted ako na magsalita din ng ganyan. Bakit po ako tempted? Bakit po ako natutukso na sumagot? Dahil sa bawat isang kasinungalingan na inilabas sa akin na nilabas ninyo, mayroon akong isangdaang katotohanan ang alam ko sa inyo at ni Ma'am Gigi," Cayetano had during his speech.

This revived speculations about Enrile's alleged romantic relationship with Reyes, which the Senate president has denied.

On Friday, Cayetano said he didn't mean Enrile and Reyes were "together."

"I meant ang dami kong alam sa kanya, ang dami kong alam kay Atty. Reyes, ang dami kong alam sa kanilang dalawa," he said. "Ang sinasabi ko lang sa kanila hindi ko naman sila aatrasan pag issue sa issue," he added.

Earlier in the day, Reyes apologized to Cayetano for "disrespecting" him. However, she also refuted some of his allegations.

Cayetano said he has yet to read the statement of Reyes but said that it wasn't material to him. "Wala naman yun. Walang ill will sa akin, no need for apology," he said. Jinggoy defends Gigi

In a statement released Friday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada came to the defense of Reyes in connection with the supposed powers given to her by Enrile.

“Considering the voluminous number of documents that need to be seen, read, studied, signed and released by every office, each senator will necessarily delegate some of these tasks to his or her right hand man or woman and trusted employees. I see no problem with that. Senators are not superhumans,” said Estrada, a known ally of Enrile.

He likewise said that Reyes is a “hardworking, trustworthy and exceptionally brilliant” lawyer.

“I have known Atty. Gigi for a long time. I have seen her work during late hours. Every senator would wish to have a staff and chief like her,” he said. “I personally hope that she reconsiders her resignation. The Senate needs her,” he added. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: gigireyes, alanpetercayetano, juanponceenrile