Choosing Elective Officials Based on Qualifications
Senator Pia Cayetano emphasized on Saturday that elective officials must be selected according to their qualifications. She strongly believes that voters are capable of discerning which candidates truly have the capacity to serve the public well.
When asked about her position on the anti-political dynasty bill, Cayetano responded by highlighting the importance of evaluating public officials by their merits rather than their family ties. “I have a brother in the Senate. You can scrutinize his work, you can scrutinize my work, magkaiba yung work namin, magkaiba ang paniniwala namin. Nagde-debate din kami,” she said, pointing out that despite their relation, they hold different views and perform distinct roles.
Family Background and Political Dynasties
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia’s younger brother, will serve alongside her in the Senate until 2028. Both are children of former Senator Renato “Rene” Cayetano, whose family has long influenced politics in Taguig.
Despite the family’s political presence, Pia Cayetano remains open to discussions about political dynasties. She acknowledged the concerns raised but insisted that an individual’s capability should be the key factor in their election. “I am always open to debates3I am always open to [hearing] what the issues are, and clearly there are issues [in] dynasty,” she said.
Merit Over Political Ties
Furthermore, Cayetano stressed, “Pero naniniwala pa rin ako na kapag napakagaling ng tao eh hindi naman dapat siya agad-agad hinuhusgahan na hindi siya dapat maging elected official.” This means she believes that a person’s competence should not be dismissed simply because of their family background.
She reiterated her confidence in the electorate’s ability to choose candidates who genuinely want to serve. “I truly believe that people should be elected based on their capacity and this electorate has shown na kaya nilang pumili ng klase ng kandidato na naniniwala silang puwedeng manilbihan.”
After winning reelection with over 14 million votes, Pia Cayetano’s Senate term will continue until 2031, allowing her to further contribute to legislative work focused on serving the public interest.
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