MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano came out in fighting form during the first round of the vice presidential debate on Sunday, April 10, attacking Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr on the corruption allegations and ill-gotten wealth amassed by the family of the late dictator.
During the first round of the debate, the vice presidential candidates were asked how they plan to fight corruption in government.
Marcos responded, "Sa 27 taong paninilbihan ko, maipagmamalaki kong walang bahid ng corruption..." His answer drew audible boos from the crowd.
Cayetano took the opportunity to attack the senator on the alleged ill-gotten wealth amassed during the Marcos dictatorship.
"Marcos said there is no trace of corruption, but his family stole $10 billion," Cayetano said in Filipino.
Cayetano also said that if Marcos is elected vice president, that amount may balloon to $100 billion.
Marcos, however, downplayed these claims, saying Cayetano's numbers have no basis.
"'Yang malalaking numero na nabanggit ng ating kasamahan dito, wala namang pinanggalingan. Kaya nagtataka ako kung saan kinuha. Nagtataka ako na sa tagal ng pagsasama namin ni Senator Alan sa Senado, sa partido, wala naman siyang nabanggit tungkol diyan," Marcos said.
He repeated this question a second time after Cayetano again pointed to the amount recovered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, and the continuing efforts to recover the Marcos wealth.
Cayetano also raised Marcos' alleged involvement in the multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam. According to the IBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan Movement, Marcos allegedly channeled P205 million of his pork barrel funds to the fake non-governmental organizations of Janet Lim Napoles.
Cayetano also scored Marcos for failing to appear at Senate hearings related to corruption.
But Marcos said that he refused to attend hearings because it was being used for political motives.
"Maliwanag sa akin na ang kanilang ginagawa ay hindi anti-corruption kundi pamumulitika. Hindi ako sasama sa ganyang klaseng pamumulitika," he said. – Rappler.com