Speaker Cayetano: Do we have a choice but to trust the President?

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday lashed out at critics who condemn the Duterte administration for its response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health situation.

In a midnight speech after the House of Representatives approved House Bill 6616 granting special authority to the President to address COVID-19, Cayetano responded to individuals who he said have been politicizing the health emergency for their own gains.

Cayetano stood by the move of the House to approve the measure, even the special powers to be given to the President, which have stirred controversy over the weekend.

"We've shown that we can trust the President and we can trust the government. Unang-una, do we have a choice? 'Yung iba kasi sinasabi kailangan ng leadership ngayon. Ano ang ibig sabihin nun? Palitan ang Presidente. Gusto nila kandidato nila," he said.

"Hindi tayo mamulitika, hindi time para i-weaponize itong COVID-19. We have a leader. Ako, it's my choice to trust him. I think many of you here. It's also our job for check and balance," he added.

Cayetano pointed out that the special authority they have given to Duterte is not absolute, and it can even be overriden by an act of Congress.

"That is the first time in history if I'm not mistaken na may oversight committee pero puwedeng i-override ang regulasyon na ginawa ng executive department. I don't think any other President allowed that provision or threatened or actually vetoed it kung meron," he said. 

"So the checks and balances are there. But what the executive is asking for, nasaan ang flexibility? Nasaan ang batas that will allow us to meet what President [Donald] Trump has called the invisible enemy," he added.

Cayetano even took a swipe at critics who continue to bash the administration even as they do not have any contribution in preparing for the coming of the health emergency.

"It's a war. Did anyone here predict the war? You're saying government is not prepared. Well, where was your plan for us to be prepared?" he said.

"No one was prepared because no one expected the magnitude, except for a few future thinkers like Bill Gates and scientists who dealt with other outbreaks like Ebola who were telling us that one day, other viruses are going to creep out of the forest, wherever part of the world, and is going to be a major pandemic. So wala tayong choice, my dear colleagues, but to work," he added.

Both the House and the Senate have already approved their respective bills giving additional powers to Duterte in responding to COVID-19. It will now be sent to the President for his signing. —KG, GMA News