Facing continuing attacks over allegedly anomalous projects in Taguig City, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday turned his own political struggle into a message of hope for people facing “persecution” and other difficult seasons in life.

In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano said people cannot always choose the problems they face but they can choose to trust God and His purpose.

“Kung kayo ay dumadaan sa mga persecution, sa struggle, sa problema – pag-aaral ng anak, sa health – you did not choose that, but you can choose to have faith in God and to fulfill your purpose,” he said.

Cayetano made the remarks as he continues to face repeated attacks from a fellow senator – whom he called a “senator-judge troll” – who has been claiming that there are anomalous projects in the City of Taguig.

The Minority Leader expressed dismay that the attacks had dragged his “beloved city” and its public programs into the controversy.

“Talagang paninira na lang po, hindi hustisya, hindi anti-corruption kundi paninira,” Cayetano said.

Despite this, the lawmaker said one way he copes is by trying to understand the person behind the attacks.

“I try to understand. Siguro tinamaan din kasi y’ung kanyang credibility, kanyang diskarte… Tapos hindi siguro sanay na nakikipagsagutan. Pero hindi rin po ako sanay na inaaraw-araw [ng pang-aatake],” he said.

Cayetano said the experience reminded him of a message that God impressed upon his heart: “You cannot choose.”

“Hindi mo pinili y’un. Pero kung may purpose po ang Lord, you have to have faith that His purpose will not only be achieved, pero sagot ka Niya,” he said.

Cayetano also made an appeal to those causing others’ struggles to examine themselves.

“Kung kayo naman ang nagbibigay ng persecution o kayo ang cause ng problema, baka ang purpose mo ay repentance. Tinatawag ka ng Diyos na mali na ’yan,” he said.

Just last April, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon himself joined an inspection in Taguig where initial checks found no evidence of ghost infrastructure.