For the Cayetano siblings, it’s always better to amicably settle a case between people with close ties than immediately bringing it to court.
This was the takeaway Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano shared during the seventh episode of their public service show ‘Cayetano in Action with Boy Abunda’ (CIA with BA), which they co-host with King of Talk Boy Abunda.
In the ‘Case-2-Face’ segment, the senator-siblings acted as peacemakers among three friends whose relationship had been shaken up when one of them turned ‘Marites’ and spread gossip about her friend’s outstanding debt.
The case wrapped up with good vibes as Senator Pia led the resolution among the friends who humbly admitted their faults, forgave each other, and thereafter got in a group hug with the senator.
Happy with how the situation sorted out, Senator Alan said many personal issues such as this one do not need a legal solution as these can be resolved in person.
“Maraming wala sa Civil Code, sa ating mga batas, sa barangay justice system, pero [kayang pag-usapan] sa kultura nating mga Pilipino at sa ating pagiging maka-Diyos,” he explained.
Comparing the situation to sibling quarrels, Senator Pia said that while the show will always be available to provide free legal counsel, it is always preferable to settle issues out of court and face-to-face.
“Kami ay nandito para magbigay ng payong legal. Pero at the end of the day, kapag nakita naman namin na sa personal ay pwedeng ayusin, laging doon kami pupunta – between humans to humans. Parang sa magkakapatid lang iyan,” the senator said.
To avoid another similar clash, Senator Pia urged the women: “Huwag na sana magsalita ng masasakit na salita.”
The Cayetanos also echoed their advice during the show’s ‘Payong Kapatid’ segment, as the complainant sought their counsel on what to do with her brother who tried to monopolize the family’s share of inheritance.
“As a lawyer, it pains me to advise people na mag-file ng kaso o demand letter sa kamag-anak. As Filipinos and Christians, kung kayang pagkasunduan na lang, bakit kailangan pa dalhin sa korte?” Senator Alan said.
“Pero kung wala kang choice at hindi na nakikipag-usap because you have to protect your rights, you start the legal process,” he added.
The segment showed the complainant being assigned to a lawyer who helped her resolve the issue with her brother.
Ending on a high note, the live audience had fun and took home prizes through the show’s ‘PAG-ASA’ and ‘Alan, Pia, Pik’ game segments.
According to Senator Alan, CIA with BA is an “evolution” of “Compañero y Compañera,” a radio and television program hosted by their late father Senator Rene Cayetano which aired from 1997 to 2001.
“[CIA with BA] is a creative way of looking at legal issues [where we] give advice without confining it in legal [concepts] o pagiging bookish. Kasi katulad nga ng sinabi sa Bible, the law was made for man, not man made for the law,” he said in a Facebook livestream on March 27, 2023.
Abunda joined the senator in encouraging Filipinos to watch the show, saying he himself had learned a lot from all the previous episodes.
“Hindi lamang ito entertainment dahil may mga games din tayo, pero higit sa lahat, ang dami, dami, dami nating matututunan na maibabahagi natin sa ating pamilya, mga kapitbahay, mga kaibigan,” he told the viewers.
Stay tuned for updates on social media via @cayetanoinactionwithboyabunda on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Youtube.
