DAVAO CITY – Sen. Alan Cayetano vowed on Sunday to defend his running mate President-elect Rodrigo Duterte from senators who will try to prevent him from implementing his platform.
Cayetano said the proposed Senate chairmanships are not supportive of the incoming administration's agenda and “can turn obstructive anytime.”
“I will be there to help and protect the president. I won’t allow the Senate to be used to destroy the platform of our president,” the senator said in an interview at the Abreeza Mall here.
“Some senators said no one can stop the Senate from investigating. That’s true but no one should also use the Senate to obstruct the good platform of our president,” he added.
Cayetano said he and Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III would continue to dialogue to thresh out the committee chairmanships. Cayetano and Pimentel are among the contenders for the race for Senate presidency.
“It’s not only about the Senate presidency. It’s about the majority of senators who will support the president and as of now, we don’t have that Senate majority,” Cayetano said.
"If you look at the Senate chairmanships, it is not supportive. In fact, it is even critical of the president,” he added.
Cayetano, in particular, is against the naming of incoming Senator Leila de Lima as justice committee chairperson and returning Senator Panfilo Lacson as chairman of the public order committee.
De Lima is opposed the restoration of death penalty, one of Duterte’s priorities while Lacson said he is ready to conduct investigations on Duterte’s anti-crime and illegal drugs campaign.
Asked how far apart he is with Pimentel with regard to the Senate chairmanships, Cayetano said: “So near yet so far.”
“I don’t have to have that position. I want the president to succeed so our discussions are so near yet so far. We would be hypocrites if we’d say that we don’t like the post (Senate president) but what sets us apart are the committee chairmanships,” Cayetano added.
“But I think through dialogue and talking, Sen. Koko would understand what I am saying.”