Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged the Filipino electorate to get to know all the candidates for the 2022 Philippine national elections through the conduct of regular face-to-face and one-on-one debates.
“Alalahanin lang natin parati y’ung biblical principle na, ‘Kung ano’ng ating itatanim, ‘yan din ang ating aanihin.’ More than the process, get to know each and every candidate,” Cayetano said in a media interview on November 19, 2021.
(Let us always remember the biblical principle: “What you sow is what you reap.” More than the process, get to know each and every candidate.)
“‘Wag muna tayong humusga [at] ‘wag nating buuin na ayaw natin sa isang tao o gustong gusto natin sa isang tao, kasi sa katotohanan, I think wala pang five percent ng plataporma at pagkatao ng kandidato [ang] lumalabas,” he added.
(Let us not judge and conclude that we like or dislike a person yet, because the truth is, we only know about five percent of that person’s personality and platforms.)
Cayetano said this is “precisely the reason” he is pushing for the conduct of face-to-face and one-on-one debates among presidentiables, vice presidentiables, and senatoriables.
“I-welcome natin y’ung mga bagong sumama [na candidates]. At least, ngayon alam na natin. Now, we can start na himayin ang issue point-by-point,” he added.
(Let us welcome the new candidates. At least now we know who they are and we can start discussing the issues point-by-point.)
Meanwhile, Cayetano said he will continue supporting the Sampung Libong Pag-asa initiative and other economic programs that will help the Filipino people recover from the pandemic.
Cayetano filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) as an independent bet on October 7, 2021, formalizing his bid for a return to the Senate.
Cayetano said he will be bringing with him a faith-based and values-oriented leadership that would address issues such as online cockfighting (e-sabong) and other forms of gambling as well as the 10K Ayuda economic stimulus.
