For former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, there are three things the country needs right now to answer its most pressing problems.
“Dapat lumabas ang katotohanan, dapat klaro ang focus ng gobyerno, and dapat ang leadership malinaw,” Cayetano said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Vigan on September 7.
(The truth must come out, the focus of the government must be clear, and the leadership must be clear.)
Citing the ongoing investigation involving discrepancies found by the Commission on Audit (COA) on a number of government programs, the former Speaker said the public must be made aware if corruption is happening behind the scenes.
“Kung totoong may anomalya, kung totoong may corruption, kung totoong hindi nagamit y’ung napakalaking pondo, kailangan lumabas to para para hindi lang tayo paulit-ulit,” he said.
(If there really are anomalies, if there is corruption, if it’s true that the funds were not used, these all must come out so we don’t repeat them.)
Cayetano, however, said while the investigations are going on, the national government should remain focused on addressing the pandemic and helping the people in their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
“We have to focus on COVID-19 kahit may ibang issues sa COA and sa imbestigasyon. So buhay at kabuhayan,” he said.
(We have to focus on COVID-19 even though there are other issues with the COA and the investigation. We need to focus on lives and livelihood.)
Cayetano, whose own focus is set on helping Filipino communities recover from the pandemic, said he hopes the government will be able to adapt the 10K Ayuda from his Sampung Libong Pag-asa program.
The former House Speaker reiterated his call for other leaders to join him in crafting a five-year economic recovery plan, saying it would help Filipinos predict the medium-term future and invest in their plans.
Cayetano had repeatedly called on those planning to run for President to come together and create a five-year plan which will be implemented regardless of who becomes the nation’s leader after the 2022 nation election.
