Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said there is no inconsistency between Bible-based Christian leadership and one that is based on other religions because people of different faiths and beliefs share common values and principles.
In a radio interview with RMN Zamboanga on September 14, 2021, Cayetano expressed the need for a faith-based candidate for President in the 2022 national elections.
“Ang ibig sabihin ng Christ-centered at Bible-based ay ikaw ay Bible believer at ang namumuno ng buhay mo ay hindi ang sarili mo o ang makamundong puso mo kung hindi ang Panginoong Hesukristo,” Cayetano said.
(‘Christ-centered’ and ‘Bible-based’ means you believe in the Bible and what governs your life is not your self or your worldly heart but the Lord Jesus Christ.)
Cayetano acknowledged that the Philippines has various religious beliefs other than Christianity but said this poses no challenge when it comes to good governance.
“Ang tunay na maka-Diyos na administrasyon, kahit ito’y multi-faith, ay nakaka-deliver, whether [ang programa] ay anti-corruption, anti-drugs, anti-crime, pro-education…dapat nakaka-deliver yan,” he said.
(A truly godly administration, even if it is multi-faith, can and should be able to deliver good programs whether these center on anti-corruption, anti-drugs, anti-crime, pro-education, among others.)
Cayetano said this kind of governance is possible because nationalism binds the Filipino people regardless of their religious belief.
“Iba-iba tayo ng paniniwala, iba-iba tayo ng faith, pero ako ay naniniwala bilang mga Pilipino, we share the values of pagiging maka-Diyos and makabayan,” he said.
(Despite having different sets of beliefs and faiths, what unites us as Filipinos is our shared values of godliness and patriotism.)
“We can have different religions, but we can share the same values,” he added.
On the topic of the 2022 national elections, Cayetano said that he will “take the next ten days to continue talking to people and discerning, and keeping an open mind.”
“I continue to ask for prayers so that we will make the right decision,” he said.
