Cayetano cites gains of Aquino gov’t

MANILA, Philippines - With such a popular president, how can the country go wrong?

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the significant gains of the Aquino administration have made him take a supportive stand even if he is supposed to be with the opposition.

“The President’s halo covers the bureaucracy,” Cayetano said during a roundtable discussion with The STAR on Wednesday.

Cayetano, seeking reelection under the administration coalition, noted President Aquino “is the only bachelor who is given an extended honeymoon.”

Cayetano said he shared a common stand with Aquino on many issues even before he was elected president.

“We were all anti-GMA (former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo). Whether it was for the impeachment of former chief justice Renato Corona or the Reproductive Health measure, we have the same stance,” he said.

Cayetano ended up defending the President after he revealed that many people have been expressing their concerns during his listening tours, which he conducts during his campaign for reelection.

According to Cayetano, he has been trying to bring up with some members of the Cabinet such concerns, including high lending rates of loan sharks operating the 5-6 system in markets, the need to boost some local industries and to protect the fisheries sector.

Cayetano said he wants to act as a bridge between the marginalized sector and the executive branch with his PTK (Presyo, Trabaho, Kabuhayan) campaign tour amid complaints that the improvement in the economy has not trickled down to the masses.

When asked why he has not been attacking the Aquino administration as part of his role as minority leader, Cayetano said he can see great hope with the way the President is handling the affairs of state.

“It’s more of the treatment. During GMA’s time, if you say she has curly hair, it will grab the headlines. I am not saying that it is the media’s fault. It’s the total mood, it’s like you are in a party, if you go against it, you will be a party pooper,” Cayetano said.

“To be fair, he (Aquino) also has many accomplishments in the economy… We have a better economy now. Regardless, if it is GMA or Erap’s (former President Joseph Estrada) fault,” he added.

Cayetano said he is supportive of many administration projects, making him realize that the country will move forward if politics is momentarily set aside.

“Right now, I just want to take advantage of the fact that there are the funds and the programs. And how do I help?” Cayetano said.

A known Arroyo critic, Cayetano said he is not into blaming her for the ills of the nation anymore.

“Like a bankrupt company, when you take over, you have a year to probably blame the previous one. But after a year, you become a CEO,” the senator said.

Cayetano added even his colleagues at the Senate have not strictly observed the majority and minority groups.

“We are the only country with a multi-party system but a presidential system. Who is in the opposition and who is in the administration is muddy and vague,” he said.

“In the Senate, there are three of us in the minority, but on the other hand there are more Aquino critics in the majority.”