Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano appealed to all political leaders and the Filipino people to build the nation together instead of focusing on strengthening their own groups or political parties.
In his ‘CIA 365 with Kuya Alan’ reflections on October 9, Cayetano said the still unresolved massive flood control corruption issue has exposed the country’s lack of shared values and definitions that should guide leaders in governance and public service.
“Dapat when we’re talking about building anything – a tribe, family, the church, your political party, yung base mo – dapat in the context of building the nation,” he said.
“Kung may solusyon dito sa anti-corruption, it has to be a solution for everyone,” he emphasized.
The senator noted that even the ongoing flood control investigations have been marred by partisan interpretations, with supporters labeling budgetary changes differently depending on political alignment.
“Isa sa pinakabasic d’yan is y’ung definition of terms o y’ung mga fundamental rules sa ating pag-uusap,” Cayetano said.
“Hindi naman pwedeng pag si ganito naglagay, insertion ‘yan. Pag si ganito naglagay, amendments ‘yan.”
He cited this inconsistency as an example of how political bias distorts public discourse and fuels division.
“Wala pong partido sa buong mundo at sa history ng world na parating tama. That’s why you listen to each other, especially in the modern world, kasi developing y’ung mga solusyon sa mga problema, especially a big problem of corruption,” he said.
Cayetano said the country is at a crossroads where corruption could either lead to revolution or renewal, depending on whether Filipinos respond with partisanship or with “a shared mission and vision” and core values.
“It could lead to national renewal if we bind together, may repentance, paparusahan ang dapat parusahan, bawiin ang pera, baguhin natin ang pag-iisip natin,” he said.
“Revolutions have happened in the past. But then it was not a revolution of the heart, it was not a revival of the heart, it was not a renewal – nagpalit lang ng tao,” he added.
He added that the true battle against corruption is both moral and spiritual.
“Ako’y naniniwala na may spiritual [aspect ito], na mas malaki y’ung spiritual nito rather than physical,” he said.
“I’m hoping as we journey together and find solutions for our country, no matter how emotional we are in supporting or in fighting another group, let’s be reasonable and have common rules para we get there together,” he said.
