Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s promise to provide P 10,000 in pandemic assistance, which was proposed in a bill that failed to get Congress’ approval, is like former President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promise to ride a jetski to the disputed West Philippine Sea that never happened.
Malacañang made this comparison on Monday as it dismissed Cayetano’s claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected his proposal, noting that the bill was never passed by the legislature.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said the P 10,000 aid proposal was never included in the 2022 national budget due to its failure to pass congressional muster.
“Kung wala pa po siyang nagagawa, wala pong masasabing ni-reject ang Pangulo dahil wala po nga siyang nasisimulan,” Castro said.
She said Cayetano should instead take responsibility for failing to secure lawmakers’ approval.
“Itong mga kahinaan ni Senator Alan Cayetano, kabagalan at hindi… Kakayanan sa pagtupad sa kanyang pangako ay huwag niya pong ipahid sa ibang tao,” Castro said, adding: “Akuin niya mismo kung ano ang kaniyang kakulangan.”
She likened it to the 2016 campaign promise of Duterte – Cayetano’s ally – that he will ride a jetski to the West Philippine Sea to assert the country’s sovereignty over the disputed waters.
“Huwag nya naman sanang gayahin iyong pangakong a la jetski na pangkampanya lang,” Castro added.
