Senator Alan Peter Cayetano interviewed at Araw ng Davao festivity (UNTV News)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Because we are celebrating the 78th “Araw ng Davao”, significant political personalities came to the city on Monday to join the festivities. One of them is Senator Peter Alan Cayetano, who was also one of the special guests in the festivity.
Upon arrival, he sat with the city government officials to watch the scheduled events.
In the interview with the local media, the Senator says he has no apprehensions in visiting Mindanao despite his present unpopularity in the Muslim community brought about by his opinions against pushing through with the peace process.
The Senator remains firm in his stand against the peace process, calling the MILF as unwilling peace partners.
“Kung kukupkopin nila, susuportahan anila ang terorista, bakit tayo papayag na maging peace partners(If they will coddle and support terrorists, why should we keep them as peace partners),” Cayetano said.
The Senator further said that he is one for lasting peace but only with willing partners. Nevertheless, he is not one to back down in case there should be war.
“Naintindihan ko na hindi ibaba ang armas habang nagne-negotiate, so iba ang sinasabi, iba ang ginagawa–-war o peace? So iba ang sinasabi, iba ang ginagawa,(They won’t put down their arms while negotiating. So, they say one thing but do the opposite. Is it war or peace? They say one thing, and do the opposite.)
” he added.
The Senator reiterates that he is for poverty alleviation in Mindanao and for the furtherance of peace talks without the firearms.
“Ang MILF hindi ko aatrasan, for war or for peace ako pumirma ako sa BBL pero pagkatapos ng nangyari sa Mamasapano, hindi sila handang magkompromiso, gusto nila lahat sa kanila, hindi naman pwede yun,(I won’t back down on MILF, for war or for peace. I signed the BBL but after what happened in Mamasapano, they did not want to compromise. They always want everything on their favor. That should not be the case.)” the Senator said.
Asked about his political plans, the Senator said he is not yet thinking about it.
“Mag-usap na lang tayo ng mga June or July because these issues can make or break the Philippines (Let’s talk maybe in June or July because these issues can make or break the Philippines.) ,” Cayetano said.
(Joeie Domingo / UNTV News)