'I have never seen Senate in such poor state': ATOM President urges Cayetano to resign — ANC

[0:00] Senator Cayetano said he is or he was a unifier. [0:06] He said he was able to unify the left, the yellows, the pinks, [0:10] and the former activists who are now all united on the side of Malacanang. [0:15] Have you seen any unification whatsoever in the past days? [0:19] There is no... Well, I don't think... [0:22] You know how it is with Senator Cayetano, [0:25] especially in the last few weeks or so. [0:28] Ever since he took over the Senate, it has been chaotic. [0:33] I have never seen the Senate as chaotic as it is right now, [0:37] that its legacy is really suffering. [0:40] And we should not believe everything that comes out from his mouth right now [0:46] because it was under his jurisdiction when a senator was supposed to be arrested [0:52] because of a warrant of arrest. [0:54] They allowed it to escape. [0:56] He was able to escape under his jurisdiction [1:00] in spite of the fact that he should have made sure that that should not have happened anyway. [1:11] And I pity the legacy of his father right now [1:14] because you know how his father was. [1:16] In fairness to Senator Rene Cayetano, [1:20] he respected the institution. [1:22] And the Senate right now is a ghost of its previous image right now. [1:27] The legacy has been really tarnished. [1:30] In a statement yesterday, [1:31] Senator Cayetano said his message last June 12 [1:35] was actually meant to honor heroes, their families, and their sacrifices, [1:40] and he only wanted the truth. [1:43] He also said, [1:44] Gising, may laban pa tayo kahit nasa kanila ang lahat ng kapangyarihan at kayamanan sa mundo. [1:50] Laban lang. [1:51] What is your reaction to that, Sir Vald? [1:54] Everything that he has been doing lately, [1:57] especially those regular video lives on Facebook, [2:02] they are all propaganda for me. [2:08] That's what I see, you know. [2:10] The fact that there was already a move by his colleagues [2:14] to really reorganize the Senate, [2:17] and he has not been recognizing it, [2:20] even if there was already a precedent. [2:22] I'm referring to the move to install acting Senate President Wynne Gachalian. [2:30] In the previous history of the Senate, [2:36] this has never happened when someone will really not honor something like this. [2:41] That's why, like I said, [2:42] it has become a mess under his leadership. [2:45] And I've read in some of our news articles lately in our media [2:51] that there was a precedent for Senator Alan Peter to be behaving like this [2:58] because in Congress, somewhat there was a similar event [3:01] where he sort of, you know, was behaving almost the same as how he is behaving now. [3:08] I'm just not, I just don't know the entire context, [3:12] but it looks like he has a history of doing such things. [3:16] You're referring to the term-sharing agreement with Representative Lord Alan Velasco? [3:21] Yeah, he did not, you know, he doesn't really recognize immediately [3:28] whatever the, you know, what should, you know, he should be respecting. [3:35] In other words, he should be respecting what his colleagues did in the Senate [3:40] so that they can go back to work. [3:42] A lot of work has to be done. [3:44] We are still in a crisis. [3:45] If you will crisis it, our people are still suffering. [3:48] But Senator Cayetano and his group, Senators Pia Cayetano, [3:52] Senator Lauren Lagarda, are arguing that the Gachalian bloc [3:56] violated the rules when they declared all seats vacant, [4:01] even that of the Senate President and Senate President pro tempore [4:04] because you need 13 votes or 13 members. [4:08] They only have 12. [4:10] As a civilian, as a Filipino, what's your take on all of this? [4:13] But there was a precedent. [4:15] Remember, it came out of social media, [4:17] even in our media outlets during the time of Senator Frank Drillon. [4:24] It's what they did, I understand. [4:27] It's not as if it was unprecedented. [4:29] There was a precedent. [4:30] And all that they have been doing right now, perhaps, [4:33] I don't want to call them blocked because [4:35] I don't want to add to the division that is now happening in the Senate [4:39] because they are supposed to be one body working [4:41] for the welfare of the people. [4:44] But it's all about politics. [4:46] That's what I see right now. [4:47] It's all about propaganda, trying to win the people, [4:50] trying to get their sympathy to their causes, you know, [4:53] and impure causes, shall we say. [4:57] And you have also called for the resignation of Senator Cayetano, [5:01] Alan Peter Cayetano. [5:02] Kailangan po bang umabot sa resignation? [5:05] Only because, like I said, [5:08] I have never seen the Senate in such state right, [5:12] poor state right now. [5:15] Especially during the post-EDSA, [5:16] we have never seen something like this. [5:18] Even during the impeachment of the President Joseph Estrada, [5:22] you know, there were a few, of course, [5:25] historical events that happened there. [5:27] The walkout of the prosecutors and everything. [5:29] But it has never come to a point where [5:31] the senators themselves are not anymore [5:34] giving due respect to their own institution. [5:39] I think not, [5:41] hindi lang po ako nag-iisa [5:42] sa paniwala na ito. [5:45] And this is what our observations are. [5:47] And it shouldn't continue. [5:49] It shouldn't continue. [5:50] Why? [5:50] Because this has reached the international community. [5:54] It has been a source of, [5:56] really, [5:58] nakakahiya na po tayo, [6:01] ang bayan natin, [6:02] to see the Senate of the [6:03] Republic of the Philippines in such a state. [6:05] But former Senate President Alan Cayetano [6:08] has also argued that [6:10] he hasn't been given the chance [6:12] to prove himself. [6:14] Fresh start na raw agad yung hinihingi. [6:16] Hindi pa siya nagsisimula sa kanyang termino. [6:19] Would that be, [6:20] is it unfair for Cayetano [6:23] for people to call for a fresh start already [6:25] even if he is just beginning? [6:28] It was, [6:29] I don't think it's unfair. [6:31] In the first place, [6:35] during his first day [6:36] as Senate President, [6:38] there was already chaos there [6:39] with Senator Bato [6:40] being chased [6:42] on the stairs [6:43] of the Senate building. [6:45] That in itself is, [6:46] you know, [6:47] wow, [6:48] really, [6:49] inside the Senate. [6:51] And then [6:51] a couple of days [6:53] or a day later, [6:55] there is suddenly [6:55] that [6:56] unnecessary gun, [6:59] gun, [7:00] you know, [7:01] barilan ka agad [7:02] under his, [7:04] under his, [7:04] under his, [7:04] under his, [7:06] under his jurisdiction [7:07] or under his term [7:08] as a president. [7:09] And that was the first time [7:10] you've seen something like that. [7:12] It's so, [7:13] ano, [7:13] nakaka, [7:14] ano yun, [7:14] nakaka, [7:15] nakakilabot yung nangyari. [7:17] I'm sorry, [7:18] palagay ko yung Tagalog word [7:20] is much more appropriate [7:22] to really [7:22] send what I'm feeling right [7:25] and what a lot of Filipinos [7:26] are feeling right now. [7:28] Nakakakilabot yung nangyari [7:29] sa Senado. [7:30] And I'd also like [7:31] to get your comment [7:33] on the statement [7:34] of Senator Cayetano [7:36] saying na [7:37] hindi naman exclusive [7:40] yung paggamit [7:41] ng laban sign [7:42] to a certain group. [7:43] Anyone can use it. [7:44] Definitely. [7:46] I would agree with him. [7:47] I would agree with him. [7:48] Most, [7:49] especially that, [7:50] you know, [7:51] it's been 10 years [7:52] since this was [7:53] the laban sign, [7:55] Ninoy Aquino. [7:57] Their camp [7:57] were actually [7:58] the ones [7:59] who actually [8:00] lumped [8:01] all those symbols [8:02] into one corner. [8:04] When in fact, [8:05] we believe that [8:05] it belongs [8:06] to all Filipinos. [8:08] Well, [8:08] regardless of your [8:09] political leanings [8:10] right now, [8:11] but, [8:12] I'm saying but, [8:14] you can't just use it [8:15] just to push [8:16] your own [8:17] political selfish [8:19] goals, [8:21] you know, [8:21] for your camp [8:23] or for your patrons, [8:24] political patrons. [8:26] Like I said earlier, [8:28] to see them [8:29] re-embracing [8:30] the symbol [8:31] that they have [8:32] tried to bury [8:33] to the ground [8:33] and to destroy [8:34] for 10 years, [8:36] that alone [8:37] is a sign [8:38] or that alone [8:39] should actually [8:40] be realized [8:42] by a lot of people [8:42] that I don't think [8:44] these people [8:44] are really sincere [8:45] in using this. [8:46] So, [8:48] do you have [8:48] a message [8:48] for Senator Cayetano? [8:50] I hope, [8:53] I hope, [8:53] I just hope [8:54] that he remembers [8:55] his father, [8:56] how much his father [8:57] respected the institution. [8:59] And I pity [9:00] the legacy [9:01] of his father [9:02] so much. [9:04] But if you can't [9:06] really do something [9:07] like that [9:07] and, [9:08] you know, [9:08] think more [9:09] of the welfare [9:10] of the Filipino people, [9:11] especially with [9:12] the current [9:13] ongoing crisis [9:14] that our country [9:15] is having, [9:16] it's best for you [9:17] to just resign [9:19] from your post [9:20] as a senator [9:21] because [9:21] we Filipinos [9:24] do not deserve [9:24] someone like you [9:26] in the Senate. [9:27] Senator Joel Villanueva [9:28] recently, [9:29] or was it yesterday, [9:30] said that he will [9:31] be joining [9:32] if a special session [9:34] will be called. [9:35] What's your take [9:36] on this? [9:37] Do you think [9:37] this will be the answer [9:38] to the impasse [9:39] in the Senate? [9:40] Well, [9:41] I hope so. [9:42] I hope so. [9:43] You know, [9:43] you know how it is [9:44] in our politics [9:45] lately, [9:46] even in the Senate [9:47] or Congress, [9:48] until it really happens, [9:49] you can't take [9:50] their words for it. [9:52] You know, [9:52] but I really hope so. [9:53] I'm keeping our fingers crossed [9:54] and I hope that [9:55] our people [9:57] will continue [9:58] to really speak out, [9:59] to call out our senators [10:00] if they are [10:01] really not doing [10:02] their job well. [10:03] At ako na po [10:04] ang babawi. [10:06] Laban lang po tayo, [10:07] mga kababayan, [10:09] at huwag po tayong [10:10] susuko na [10:11] ipaglaban ating [10:13] democratic values [10:14] and help the senators [10:16] to really [10:16] redirect their [10:18] priorities [10:19] to the priorities [10:20] of our country. [10:21] And finally, [10:22] there is also, [10:23] amidst all of the issues [10:25] at the Senate, [10:25] there is also the [10:26] pending or impending [10:28] impeachment process, [10:30] impeachment trial [10:30] against the vice president. [10:32] What's your hope? [10:33] What does Atom hope to see? [10:35] Or what are your expectations [10:36] regarding this? [10:37] We hope that it [10:38] really proceeds forthwith [10:40] this time around. [10:41] We all know that [10:42] last year it did not. [10:44] And I believe, [10:45] we believe in the organization, [10:46] all of these side quests, [10:48] we call it side quests, [10:49] for gamers, [10:50] these are all being done [10:53] as a diversionary [10:54] from the main issue [10:55] which is the impeachment trial. [10:58] I think they're trying [10:59] to divert [10:59] all our attention [11:00] from that. [11:02] All right. [11:03] Thank you so much, [11:04] Atom President, [11:04] Walt Bohol, [11:05] for joining us this morning. [11:06] Thank you very much. [11:07] Good morning. [11:08] Good morning. [11:08] Good morning. [11:09] Good morning. [11:09] Good morning. [11:09] Good morning. [11:09] Good morning. [11:10] Good morning. [11:10] Good morning. [11:10] Good morning. [11:10] Good morning. [11:11] Good morning. [11:11] Good morning. [11:11] Good morning. [11:12] Good morning. [11:12] Good morning. [11:12] Good morning. [11:13] Good morning. [11:13] Good morning. [11:13] Good morning. [11:14] Good morning. [11:14] Good morning. [11:14] Good morning. [11:14] Good morning. [11:15] Good morning. [11:15] Good morning. [11:15] Good morning. [11:16] Good morning. [11:16] Good morning. [11:16] Good morning. [11:17] Good morning. [11:17] Good morning. [11:18] Good morning. [11:19] Good morning. [11:19] Good morning. [11:20] Good morning. [11:21] Good morning. [11:22] Good morning. [11:23] Good morning. 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