Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano plans to remain an independent senatorial candidate and urged presidential candidates to address issues relating to habit-forming activities like online gambling or e-sabong and e-cigarettes.
“I’ll be very honest with you, wala pa akong presidentiable na narinig na nagsabing ‘Masama ang e-sabong, kawawa ang tao, bilyon-bilyon ang nawawala. ‘Pag ako naging presidente, isasara ko ‘yan,’” Cayetano said in a media interview.
(I’ll be very honest with you, I haven’t heard a presidential candidate who addressed the ills connected to e-sabong, that it can affect people negatively, that billions can be lost, and that they will have it closed down if they win the presidency.)
He said while there are many areas in which he agrees with the presidential candidates, he notices that none of them has spoken against issues that can be damaging to the people.
“I agree with some points – kay Isko, y’ung bilis ng pagkilos, I agree with Vice President Leni na kailangan ng malaking ayuda, I agree with Manny Pacquiao that we need to have a better housing system, I agree with Bongbong na dapat [may] unity,” he said.
(I agree with some points like the initiatives of Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno, I agree with Vice-President Leni Robredo that we need more financial aid, I agree with Senator Manny Pacquiao that we need to have a better housing system, I agree with former Senator Bongbong Marcos that we need unity).
“But honestly may nakikita din akong mali sa mga stand ng iba…Candidates don’t want to speak like this [on e-sabong] kasi may makakalaban ka eh…but it’s not enough may plataporma tayo sa trabaho, sa health. What about the other evils of this world that’s coming into the government?” Cayetano said.
(But honestly there are some stances which are questionable…Candidates don’t want to speak like this because it might cause some to campaign against them…but it’s not enough that we have programs on jobs and health, but what about the other evils of this world that’s coming into the government?)
Cayetano, who plans to bring his faith-based, values-oriented leadership to the Senate, has been vocal against e-sabong which he said is highly addictive and could lead to other social ills.
“Iba ang online talaga…’di niyo pwedeng sabihin na ‘wala kaming pakialam’…Others might not think it’s not a big issue as it is, but I believe it’s my duty to speak about it,” the former Speaker said.
(Online gambling is really different, you can’t just say ‘I don’t care about it.’)
“I’m happy being an independent because I can work with them, pero hindi ako nakatali na purihin sila. ‘Pag tingin ko mali, sasabihin ko talaga na mali y’ung stand nila,” Cayetano said.
(I’m not going to agree with everything they say. If I know something’s wrong, I’ll call it out.)
