Cayetano: Nothing wrong with political dynasties

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano sees no problem with the perception of his family being a political dynasty.

Cayetano said the negative concept of a dynasty, which emerged during the 1960s and 1970s, should no longer apply to current times where public accountability is stronger than ever.

“During that time media was limited; not all people had radios and TVs; there was no Twitter, no Facebook, so at that time when you were a dynasty, you had three ‘Gs:’ guns, goons and gold,” he said in a recent radio interview.

Cayetano is running for reelection this May to again join his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano at the Senate.

At the same time, Cayetano’s wife Laarni is mayor of Taguig City, while his brother Lino is a barangay chairman who will run for Congress in May.

Their father, the late Rene Cayetano, was a senator.

Cayetano said having relatives in government could very well be a disadvantage these days.

“If my wife does something wrong, she would not only be removed from office, I would also be affected.

“If I did not do well or if I am corrupt, people will not vote for me again,” he said.

He said that people would always have a choice when it comes to the issue of the so-called political dynasties so it should not be an issue.

The choice, he said, would be clear for the people who go out and vote: “Siblings who are together in fighting a corrupt administration, who both did the right thing or totally unrelated persons who are both corrupt?”