Disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sought a ceasefire with Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson through some of his colleagues in the majority bloc after Lacson exposed anomalous infrastructure projects in Cayetano’s bailiwick of Taguig City – but Cayetano himself sank the overtures by publicly contradicting them, casting doubts on his own sincerity.
Lacson said Friday that Cayetano privately asked at least five senators from the majority bloc to relay his request for a ceasefire and for the Senate to focus on legislative work, only to publicly deny making such overtures.
“Where is your sincerity when you offer a ceasefire, then deny it at the first opportunity?” Lacson said in English and Filipino, in interviews on DZBB and True FM.
Asked to confirm if Cayetano was the one who sought a ceasefire, Lacson replied: “That is correct, absolutely.”
In Filipino: Lacson: Kawalan ng Sinseridad ni Disgrasyadong Ex-SP Cayetano, Nagpalubog sa Hirit Niyang Ceasefire
He said Cayetano’s ceasefire attempts started Wednesday last week, when Cayetano approached at least five members of the majority one by one to seek a halt to hostilities. The efforts intensified Monday and Tuesday this week when he focused on one senator to relay his request.
Lacson said the matter was raised during the majority bloc’s caucus and fellowship this Wednesday. Lacson questioned Cayetano’s sincerity.
“I said let’s first see if he can show good faith before we even consider giving any attention or room to the offer of a ceasefire,” he said, but added Cayetano answered that question by publicly denying making the overtures.
Also, Lacson cited a similar show of insincerity by Cayetano, who had asked Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Erwin Tulfo not to push through with hearings on the flood control scandal – yet when asked by media to comment, cast doubts on Tulfo’s account.
“Where is the sincerity?” Lacson said.
As for Cayetano’s claim to want the Senate to get back to work, Lacson said it was ironic since it was Cayetano’s leadership coup last May 11 that disrupted the Senate’s work in the first place.
“He claims we should get back to work. In the first place, who disrupted and continues to disrupt the Senate’s work?” he said.
Lacson added the Senate has always been focused on its work since it elected Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore last June 3, and as Senate President last June 17.
He said committees have already been organized, legislative inquiries have been lined up, and he himself has begun work as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, including attending a briefing with the Department of Finance in preparation for the committee’s agenda.
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Lacson: Kawalan ng Sinseridad ni Disgrasyadong Ex-SP Cayetano, Nagpalubog sa Hirit Niyang Ceasefire
Humingi ng ceasefire kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson si disgrasyadong ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sa pamamagitan ng kasamahan niya sa majority bloc matapos ilantad ni Lacson ang mga maanomalyang infrastructure projects sa balwarte niya sa Taguig City—ngunit si Cayetano rin mismo ang nagpalubog sa naturang mga overture nang salungatin niya ang mga ito sa publiko, na nagdulot ng pagdududa sa kanyang sinseridad.
Ani Lacson nitong Biyernes, pribadong nakiusap si Cayetano sa hindi bababa sa limang miyembro ng majority bloc para iparating ang kanyang kahilingan para sa ceasefire at upang mag-focus ang Senado sa trabaho – ngunit itinanggi rin niya sa publiko na ginawa niya ang naturang mga overture.
“So nasaan ang sincerity kung nag offer ka ng ceasefire tapos sa unang pagkakataon pinagkatanggi-tinanggi mo?” ani Lacson sa mga panayam sa DZBB at True FM.
Nang tanungin kung si Cayetano nga ang humiling ng ceasefire, sumagot si Lacson: “That is correct, absolutely.”
Sinabi ni Lacson na nagsimula ang mga pagtatangka ni Cayetano na magkaroon ng ceasefire noong Miyerkules ng nakaraang linggo, nang isa-isahin niyang lapitan ang limang miyembro ng majority bloc upang hilinging tigilan muna ang alitan. Lalo pang tumindi ang kanyang mga hakbang noong Lunes at Martes ngayong linggo nang magpokus siya sa isang senador upang maiparating ang kanyang kahilingan.
Ani Lacson, napag-usapan ang usapin sa caucus at fellowship ng majority bloc nitong Miyerkules, kung saan agad niyang kinuwestiyon ang sincerity ni Cayetano.
“I said let’s first see if he can show good faith before we even consider giving any attention or room to the offer of a ceasefire,” aniya, ngunit idinagdag na si Cayetano rin mismo ang sumagot sa tanong na iyon nang itanggi niya sa publiko ang naturang mga overture.
Binanggit din ni Lacson ang isa pang aniya’y halimbawa ng kawalan ng sincerity ni Cayetano. Aniya, nakiusap si Cayetano kay Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo na huwag nang ituloy ang mga pagdinig ukol sa flood control scandal, ngunit nang tanungin ng media, nagduda naman siya sa pahayag ni Tulfo.
“Nasaan ang sincerity?” ani Lacson.
Tungkol naman sa pahayag ni Cayetano na nais niyang makabalik na ang Senado sa trabaho, sinabi ni Lacson na kabalintunaan ito dahil ang leadership coup ni Cayetano noong Mayo 11 ang siyang unang gumulo sa gawain ng Senado.
“Yan ang dialog niya, magtrabaho tayo. Unang una sino ba nanggulo sa Senate kaya nagkaganyan-ganyan?” aniya.
Idinagdag niya na nananatiling nakatuon ang Senado sa trabaho nito mula nang mahalal si Sherwin Gatchalian bilang Senate President Pro Tempore noong Hunyo 3 at bilang Senate President noong Hunyo 17.
Sinabi ni Lacson na naorganisa na ang mga komite ng Senado, nakahanay na ang mga imbestigasyon at mga inquiry in aid of legislation, at sinimulan na rin niya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang chairman ng Senate Committee on Ways and Means, kabilang ang pagdalo sa isang briefing ng Department of Finance bilang paghahanda sa agenda ng komite.
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