Cayetano defends Duterte anew, says he's 'authentic'

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday defended Davao City Rodrigo Duterte, his partner in the May 9 elections, describing him as "authentic" with his penchant for cursing and tough talk and despite his admission that he is a womanizer.

On radio dzBB's "Ikaw Na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interview," anchor Mike Enriquez asked Cayetano, "Handa na ba ang Pilipinas na magkaroon ng presidenteng palamura, aminadong dati na siyang babaero, aminadong nagpapapatay siya at papatay siya?"

Cayetano, in response, said: "Handa na ang Pilipino para sa isang taong authentic na umaamin."

"Lahat naman po ito [presidential candidates] nagmumura. Sinong hindi nagmumura? Siya lang ang umaamin," Cayetano said of Duterte, who is running for president.

As for Duterte's admission that he favors killing criminals, Cayetano said, "Very clear ang sinabi ni Mayor Duterte, within constitutional rights."

Cayetano, quoting Duterte, said "Ang pinapatay ko lang 'yun lang pong lumalaban, 'yun pong may armas, 'yun lang pong caught in the act."

Duterte himself mentioned this when he was a guest on radio dzBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interview” on February 2. Saying that he was not in favor of extrajudicial killings, Duterte claimed that he never killed an innocent person.

Duterte explained that he urges police and the military to shoot and kill when their lives are in danger when pursuing criminals. 

He was earlier accused by Amnesty International of having had 700 people killed. Duterte responded by saying that he had actually killed 1,700 people and not just 700.

Negative spin

Meanwhile, Cayetano told Enriquez how netizens sometimes put a negative spin on Duterte's words.

"Ang lumalabas sa social media, baka naglalakad biglang damputin, baka pari 'yan na kagalit niya, habang nagmimisa, o pastor habang nagwo-worship service dudukutin," said Cayetano.

He insisted that this will never happen because Duterte is not in favor of extrajudicial killings or killings carried out by government authorities without legal process.

"I've been with him [Duterte] many times and many times he said, 'No extrajudicial killings'," Cayetano said.

Same core values

Meanwhile, Enriquez asked Cayetano, a member of Nacionalista Party, how he ended teaming up with Duterte, a member of PDP-Laban, for the May 2016 polls when their demeanor and values seem to be very opposite.

Cayetano explained that he may talk differently from Duterte, but their core values are the same. He said Duterte is a "street fighter" while he is a fighter in courts.

Cayetano said he chose to support Duterte because of his clean track record as a public official and his views on issues.

If they are both elected into office, Cayetano said he will look to Duterte on the "what" and "why," meaning that he will depend on Duterte’s guidance on what should be prioritized or what problems to solve.

On the other hand, Cayetano said he can help Duterte on the "how" aspect or the steps needed to accomplish Duterte's vision.

Cayetano, 45, has been a public servant for 23 years, first as a Taguig councilor and later vice mayor and also congressman and senator.

Cayetano said when Duterte says, "Ayoko ng 5-6 (usury), alisin natin 'yan,” it is his role to find ways for low-income families to gain access to loans without having to seek the help of unscrupulous money lenders.

No longer a womanizer

As for Duterte’s womanizing ways, Cayetano said that was in the past, but the Davao City mayor is now 70 years old and has turned over a new leaf. Even Duterte’s current partner, Honeylet Avancena, said the mayor is no longer a womanizer.

Cayetano said he and Duterte have a mutual respect for each other. "I admire his passion… he admires my spirituality."

For Cayetano, Duterte is the right person to become president at the moment, as he cited the supposed weaknesses of the other presidential candidates.

Cayetano thinks former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas does not act as swiftly and decisively as Dutete. If he and Roxas are both elected, Cayetano said his role would be to "push" things so that government programs can be accomplished.

As for Senator Grace Poe, Cayetano said she has a clean heart but lacks experience. As for Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Cayetano said she would make a capable president but her state of health was weak.

On Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cayetano supported Duterte's statement that Binay would be able to address the country's problem with crime. However, Cayetano said the corruption issues hounding Binay would not make him the ideal president at this time. —KBK, GMA News