Months after he was removed from his post as House Speaker, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano seems to be making sure the people will not forget him, a year before the 2022 elections.
Political observers are saying that Taguig Rep. Cayetano’s appearance in a TV ad promoting his so-called Ayuda Bill reeks of politics and was actually a deft maneuver to pull a fast one over his would-be political opponents in next year’s national polls
SIX months before the official filing of candidacy and a year before the 2022 national elections, former vice-presidential candidate and incumbent Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano makes an appearance in an apparent TV commercial purportedly to gather support on the passage of the 10-thousand peso “Ayuda bill”.
The advertisement, which is being aired during commercials of various GMA programs since March 23, shows a jeepney driver describing how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affected his livelihood and his family.
In the video, Roderick Oborza—the jeepney driver—called for the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 8597 or the Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino (BPP) Assistance Program Act of 2021 which was filed in the Lower House last February 1, 2021.
“Ipinagdarasal po namin na sana kasing bilis ng pag pasa ng Bayanihan Act and pag pasa ng Sampung Libong Tulong sa bawat pamilya.”
(We are praying for the fast passage of the 10 thousand [peso] assistance to every [Filipino] family the same way the Bayanihan Act was passed.)
Although the two-minute video was first posted on the congressman’s official Facebook page on March 21, an article by the Manila Bulletin said the Cayetano camp
“neither confirmed nor denied it is behind the paid TV advertisement.”
House Bill 8597
It can be remembered that Cayetano and his allies in the House of Representatives are pushing for the passage of the bill with the goal to give each Filipino families P10 thousand as an assistance for their needs and eventually help stimulate the country’s economy.
The proposed P420-billion economic recovery stimulus fund in the bill was filed two days before Cayetano’s opponent, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco filed HB 8628 or the Bayanihan 3.
Cayetano’s bill is yet to be reviewed by the House Committee on Social Services.
HB 8597 was authored by Representatives’ Maria Laarni Cayetano of Taguig, Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. of Camarines Sur, Raneo Abu of Batangas, Dan Fernandez of Laguna, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan, and Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan partylist.
Malacañang on aid
Back in February, the Palace toned down the need for a 3rd batch of cash aids to Filipinos but present surge of coronavirus cases and the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila as well as the surrounding provinces, revived the talks for a new set of assistance.
Presently, President Rodrigo Duterte backs the Department of Budget and Management’s proposal to give P1,000 worth of in-kind aid per person or P4,000 per family affected by the current lockdown measures imposed in NCR and its outlying provinces.
Though the calls to support the majority of Filipinos who are struggling during this pandemic is a noble cause, let this situation not be used by some politicians with hidden self-vested agenda or be hampered by the political squabbles of our lawmakers. (JT)
Tags: #politics, #AlanPeterCayetano, #2022elections