Former Taguig City mayor and director Lino Cayetano has openly disagreed with his brother, Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano, over the latter’s controversial remarks on corruption and repentance.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, Senator Cayetano said during a livestream: “As a people, I’m not pointing fingers. We’re all guilty from vote buying to cheating, stealing and lying. What matters is repentance.”
But Lino Cayetano rejected this view in a strongly worded Facebook post the next day.
“Hindi po ako agree dito. These are the kinds of statements from traditional politicians that spark anger. Kaya nag rerebolusyon ang GenZ at Millennials around the world. This is NOT OK.”
The former mayor stressed that while corruption exists, it should not be treated as normal behavior for Filipinos.
“Ang gusto ng nakararami ay maayos lang na buhay — ‘wag maipit at mabiktima sa galaw ng mga makapangyarihan. Hindi likas ang magnakaw, bumili ng boto, magsinungaling, at hindi din solusyon at absolusyon ang pag-‘repent’ lamang.”
He went on to call for accountability and new leadership.
“For those who will ‘repent,’ we need confessions and reform… isoli ang pera ng tao, ituloy ang reporma, at tumulong ihanda ang susunod na set of leaders to lead our country the right way. Let’s not normalize corruption. Let’s fight it!”
The disagreement further highlights the rift between the Cayetano brothers, who have been estranged since 2022. Lino previously admitted in 2024 that he and Alan had not spoken in years.
Senator Cayetano later clarified that his remarks were not meant to absolve corrupt officials but to encourage national renewal. His office issued a statement saying: “The senator made a simple but profound point: ending corruption is not just about punishing a few individuals. Real change demands confronting the culture that tolerates it.”
