SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday Senator Grace Poe had the most to lose in the presidential race with the entry of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, his running mate, in the contest.
He accused Poe of using Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as an “attack dog” to frustrate Duterte.
“Grace Poe is the biggest loser with the entry of Mayor Duterte for two reasons,” Cayetano told reporters.
“First, Mayor Duterte took the lead from her and second, Mayor Duterte isn’t afraid to talk about her being not a natural-born citizen.”
Cayetano made his statement even as Duterte said Thursday he supported public hanging to deter criminals.
“I will recommend to Congress the restoration of the death penalty by public hanging,” Duterte said.
“Almost all crimes are drug-related nowadays. I will restore order. Crime has to be stopped. Illegal drugs have to be stopped.”
Cayetano blamed Poe when asked who was behind the continuing attacks on Duterte.
Trillanes had earlier asked Duterte to name him his running mate, but Duterte picked Cayetano instead.
“At least Secretary Mar [Manuel Roxas II, the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate] himself debated with Mayor Duterte. If Grace Poe has a problem with Mayor Duterte, why is she using Senator Trillanes as spokesman?” Cayetano said.
“Almost all of those who are attacking him are the ones who came to him and even asked him to raise their hands to be his vice president. It’s just simply politics at play.”
Cayetano also repeated his call to Poe to inhibit herself from the Mamasapano probe, which will reopen on Jan. 27.
Poe said she would not inhibit herself from leading the probe in the Senate amid fears the process would be politicized.
“Can she not sacrifice a little bit of publicity and let other senators preside and attend? We can still monitor and participate by sending our questions,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said Poe could turn over the leadership of the Senate committee on public order and safety to other senators, as there would still be 17 sitting senators who could do her work.
