Gov’t urged to run after big-time crooks
FORMER Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has underscored the importance to fix the system in government against corruption to catch the big crooks.
“We really need to fix the systems and the mechanisms para matakot na talaga ang tao,” Cayetano stressed, saying what is happening now is that the government runs after the small fry but leaves big-time crooks untouched, particularly in the use of the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) budget.
“(Ang) nangyayari, baligtad. Parang ngayon, ‘wag magnakaw ng maliit kasi nahuhuli. Magnakaw ka ng malaki para makawala,” Cayetano said.
“Hindi nagbabago y’ung aking attitude na y’ung totoo, dapat lumabas. Ang nakakapagod lang [ay] parang sirang plaka. Parang replay na lang nang replay y’ung corruption sa ating bansa. Akala natin wala na, babalik na naman,” he said.
However, Cayetano said that in pursuit of truth, the country should not forget the lives and the livelihoods of the people. He said the health, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, and the livelihoods of the people should still be the focus of the government’s efforts against COVID-19.
The former Speaker said it is in this sense that he is “seriously considering” running for the presidency in next year’s elections.
“I really feel na it’s time for a Bible-based, Christ-centered, inclusive, faith-based, at values-oriented na pamumuno na talagang kung ano ang pagkukulang ay may prinsipyong pinaglalaban at solusyong mahahanap,” he said.
He noted that among the issues he would like to tackle are the proliferation of online cockfighting betting (e-sabong), online casinos (e-casinos), and the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
