Cayetano: No more rift with Madrigal

Published October 5, 2012 11:29am

(Updated 12:45 p.m.) Re-electionist Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said he longer feels uncomfortable running alongisde erstwhile rival — former Sen. Jamby Madrigal — in next year's midterm elections. "Magiging hipokrito ako pag sasabihin kong hindi ko iniisip ang mga maaring debate at maiinit na diskusiyon sa loob ng Senado tulad ng nangyare nung 2009 bago ang eleksyon. But that’s the essence of democracy,” Cayetano told reporters after filing his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) main office in Manila. “Minsan mas maganda mas mainit na debate as long as ‘yung prinsipyo naman ‘yung pinaglalaban,” he added. On Thursday when she filed her COC, Madrigal maintained there was nothing personal with her rift with Cayetano and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, both her senatorial hopefuls under the Liberal Party-led coalition.

Cayetano and Madrigal locked horns during the 2010 elections when Madrigal, then an independent presidentiable, accused Cayetano of protecting Manny Villar, who was at the time caught in an alleged anomalous road extension project months leading to the 2010 national elections. Cynthia is the wife of Sen. Villar.

Cayetano, then a spokesperson of his partymate Villar, had asked the Comelec to disqualify Madrigal from the presidential race. But on Friday, Cayetano said he could work well with Madrigal.

He said that seeing Transportations Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Senator Manny Villar – who were political opponents in 2010 – work together under the LP coalition has helped Cayetano ease his discomfort with Madrigal.

“They’re working together now at madalas magkita sa coalition,” Cayetano said, referring to Roxas and Villar. “‘Yun din sinabi ko na magiging guidelines ko sa sarili ko pag makita ko si senator Madrigal.”

“Nawawala naman ‘yung discomfort na ‘yun (with Madrigal),” he added. Comelec critic

At the same time, Cayetano denied claims that he is the “harshest critic of Comelec,” amid his latest investigation on the poll body’s supposedly extravagant purchases of cottages in Baguio City.

“’Yung iba sinisisi ako kung bakit ko binring up yung cottages nung mga commissioners. Eh ‘yung iba nagpapasalamat sa akin kasi pag ‘yung ordinaryong Comelec staff pumunta dun walang mapag-stay-an ng maayos,” he said.

According to the notice of award provided by Cayetano, the Comelec awarded the contract to purchase P3.3 million worth of furniture and P1 million worth of furnishings to the following firms: Paula's Furniture, and Raddy's Construction and Supply.

“So by now, alam na ng mga commissioner na ang nagbibigay sa akin ng information tungkol sa Comelec ay taga Comelec rin. So I would like to be known as one fighting for the rank-and-file of Comelec rather than fighting Comelec,” Cayetano said.

The senator has also been critical of the appointment of Sixto Brillantes Jr. as Comelec chief, grilling him on issues like the Comelec’s supposed inaction over the "Hello. Garci" wiretapped conversation.

“I’d like to be known as the champion of the Comelec rather than the harshest critic. I am critical of certain members of the Comelec including chairman Brillantes. And this is issue based,” Cayetano said. — Marc Cayabyab/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: alanpetercayetano, jambymadrigal, 2013polls, eleksyon2013