Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano Floats Idea of “Snap Election” amid Supposed Decline of Public Trust
ALAN PETER CAYETANO – The Senate Minority Leader expressed a thought of giving the Filipino people a fresh start through a snap election.
Both the Senate President and the House Speaker stepped down from their positions amid the flood control mess in the Philippines. Presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez said he resigned from being the House speaker so the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI can do its mandate to investigate.
Romualdez was one of the congressmen accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. He was pinned down by controversial contractor couple Pacifico and Sarah Discaya. Several other congressmen including resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co was tagged in the same accusation.
In the Senate, Sen. Chiz Escudero was replaced with now Senate President Tito Sotto. Escudero earned criticisms and accusations after he admitted to receiving a P30-million campaign donation from a contractor. A former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary, Roberto Bernardo, also accused former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero of allegedly receiving a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects.
The Senate had a shakeup. The Senate President Pro Tempore is now Sen. Ping Lacson after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was tagged in the flood control issue. The Senate Majority Leader is now Sen. Migz Zubiri after Sen. Joel Villanueva was also accused of allegedly receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects. The Senate Minority Leader now is Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Senate Majority bloc
- Sen. Tito Sotto
- Sen. Ping Lacson
- Sen. Miguel Zubiri
- Sen. Risa Hontiveros
- Sen. JV Ejercito
- Sen. Loren Legarda
- Sen. Bam Aquino
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Win Gatchalian
- Sen. Lito Lapid
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo
- Sen. Camille Villar
- Sen. Mark Villar
Senate Minority bloc
- Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
- Sen. Rodante Marcoleta
- Senator Joel Villanueva
- Sen. Chiz Escudero
- Sen. Imee Marcos
- Sen. Jinggoy Estrada
- Sen. Robin Padilla
- Sen. Bato Dela Rosa
- Sen. Bong Go
Recently, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano floated the idea of giving the Filipino people a fresh start amid an alleged declining public trust on the government. Based on a report on PhilStar, the Senate Minority Leader stressed that the politicians now supposedly appear as “suspects” in the eyes of the people.
“So here’s a thought: what if we all just resign and allow a snap election… with one important addition—no incumbent from the above can run for one election cycle,” the Senate Minority Leader said.
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano believes that the bureaucracy can continue functioning even without elected leaders. Based on the report, he descrived the local officials such as mayors, governors, and officials of the barangay as “generally trusted”.
“No drama, no excuses, no recycling. Just a clean slate for the Filipino people. A turning point leading to renewal and revival,” Cayetano said.
According to the Senator, if the government officials truly serve the Filipino people, starting over should not frighten them. He stressed that real change starts with “radical honesty”. In many senators’ call for a house arrest for former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano stressed that it is not only for the former President but the Filipino people.