Lino Cayetano disagrees with Alan's remarks on corruption, repentance

Former Taguig City mayor Lino Cayetano has refuted the claims of his older brother, Senate minority leader Senator Peter Alan Cayetano, that everyone is guilty of "vote-buying, cheating, and lying."

“Hindi po ako agree dito (I don't agree with this). These are the kinds of statements from traditional politicians that spark anger,” the former Taguig City mayor said Monday in a social media post.

Lino added that although there may have been politicians and people from the private sector guilty of what the senator was accusing of, ordinary Filipinos are mostly God-fearing.

“Sa pangkalahatan - ang sambayanang Pilipino - lalo ang pangkaraniwang pamilyang Pilipino - sa Taguig man o saan man sa Pilipinas - ay God fearing. Gusto ng tahimik at maayos na buhay,” Lino said.

(In general, Filipinos, especially the ordinary Filipino family, in Taguig or anywhere in the Philippines, are God-fearing. They just want a peaceful and decent life.)

“Hindi likas ang magnakaw, bumili ng boto, magsinungaling, at hindi din solusyon at absolusyon ang pag “repent” lamang,” he added.

(It is not natural to steal, buy votes, or lie, and simply “repenting” is not enough as a solution or absolution.)

During his livestream on Sunday, the senator urged the public to repent not just for oneself but also for the whole nation.

“And as a people, hindi ako nag fingerpoint (I'm not fingerpointing), na we're all guilty from vote buying to cheating to stealing to lying,” Alan said. “Importante, repentance (It's important to repent).”

“Wala po talagang pagbabago 'pag walang repentance. Pag mag-repent ka, pwede ka mag-repent para sa buong grupo, for the whole nation,” he added.

(There is no change if there is no repentance. If you repent, you can repent for the whole group or for the whole nation.)

The elder Cayetano also pointed out that there is no conflict in holding accountability when government officials repent for their actions.

On the other hand, Lino believes there is a need for new leaders in the country.

“We need the old guard to resign.  We need a new set of leaders to emerge in this country.  For those who will 'repent', we need confessions and reform,” the younger Cayetano said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson agreed with Lino’s statement, saying repentance will not defeat corruption if there is no equitable action.

"Hindi likas ang magnakaw, bumili ng boto, magsinungaling, at hindi din solusyon at absolusyon ang pag 'repent' lamang," Lacson said, adding that he know some government officials who steal funds and repented repeatedly.

(It is not natural to steal, buy votes, or lie, and simply “repenting” is not a solution or absolution.)

In response to his brother’s statement, Alan clarified that asking for repentance does not mean that government officials and their accomplices will not be held accountable.

“When I said everyone is guilty, ang ibig sabihin po doon walang inosente. So nung sinabi kong vote buying sabi ko nangyayari pa rin sa ating bansa,” he said in a separate livestream on Monday.

(When I say everyone is guilty, it means that everyone is innocent. When I mentioned vote buying, it means it’s happening in our country.)

“Ang sinasabi ko po if we want national renewal, we want revival, gusto natin pagbabago sa ating bansa, may acknowledgement ng bansa,” he added.

(I said if we want national renewal, we want revival, we want change in our country. The country  acknowledges this.)

Senator Cayetano's office also issued a statement to clarify the issue.

"That is why the Office of Senator Cayetano strongly condemns the deliberate distortion of his recent remarks... The senator made a simple but profound point: ending corruption is not just about punishing a few individuals. Real change demands confronting the culture that tolerates it," the statement read.

"He explained that those who steal billions are the most guilty, but those who stay silent, enable wrongdoing, or profit from a corrupt system are also far from innocent," it added.

On Monday, members of the new Senate minority bloc, of which Alan is a part, questioned the move to once more transfer former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez to the custody of the Senate from the Pasay City Jail.

Hernandez earlier accused members of the Senate of being involved in anomalous flood control projects. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News