Enrile’s dislike of Cayetanos still a mystery to Pia

ASIDE from the issue of reproductive health and additional taxes from alcohol and cigarette products, Senator Pia Cayetano said she cannot recall any incident that might have caused Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to feel hostile towards her and brother Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

The Cayetano siblings joined Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Miriam Defensor Santiago in protesting Enrile’s favoritism in the distribution of additional P1.6 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) last month.

The four have been consistently critical of the Senate leadership as Enrile said members of the minority are traditionally not afforded perks and privileges given to their majority counterparts.

“But prior to this, my personal and professional relationship with him (Enrile) had always been good. That’s why in my speech last Tuesday (January 22), I asked the Senate President whether I was being penalized for speaking my mind,” said Cayetano.

On Friday, Enrile’s resigned chief of staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes said Enrile’s “personal hurt” involving the sibling senators was “quite deeply rooted”, which the public “will never know and understand I guess.”

She added that the animosity is not related to the RH law or politics in Taguig, where Alan’s wife leadership as mayor was challenged by defeated candidate, Supreme Court Justice Dante Tinga, who is a friend of Enrile and Reyes.

“But assuming that what Atty. Reyes was true...is that an acceptable reason for him to act against a colleague? Does it mean that if any of the senators displease him in any way he can arbitrarily act and treat us differently? If he’s not happy with you, he will have the license to bully?” Cayetano said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)