The Philippine Online Chronicles

Contrary to her reputation as an accomplished triathlete, Nacionalista Party (NP) re-electionist senator Pia Cayetano described herself in a Blog Watch interview today as a “nerd” and said she occasionally clashes with younger brother senator Alan Peter Cayetano in certain stands on issues.

A 'nerd' who writes her laws

Cayetano is proud of her nerdiness. She noted that she maintains a small staff and writes the laws she files herself. Among those she authored and sponsored were landmark bills such as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (Republic Act 9994) and the Expanded Breastfeeding Act (Republic Act 10028).

She said she is “qualified” for the job of Senator because of her professional background as a lawyer, and her family background as daughter of the late senator Rene Cayetano.

Reservations to Arroyo

Cayetano meanwhile slammed the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, saying that it has refused to sign pending bills and has “impounded" key budget allocations, particularly for healthcare and women's health.

She blamed Arroyo's impounding powers as a hindrance for better services and the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the attainment of reproductive health.

“That's the reason why our legislative and fiscalizing powers are not effective because the executive branch somehow hinders our functions. Of our job is limited on the scope of our work,” Cayetano justified.

On reproductive health

Cayetano, described as a staunch advocate of women's rights, said that the women's sector's stand on reproductive health must be explained sincerely to the Roman Catholic church, which opposes the Reproductive Health Bill and the use of artificial contraceptives.

“The use of artificial contraceptives is a choice, and it must be an educated choice. Those who are against it must consider the lives of women who die because of childbirth, and because of sickness caused by childbirth, such as cervical cancer,” Cayetano explained.

She then emphasized that it is the role of the parents to educate their children on sex education, and that the government must initiate an education drive on reproductive rights and sex education to parents.

On politics

Cayetano revealed that “at times,” she and her younger brother Alan Peter have opposing views on certain issues, citing the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). The older Cayetano rejected the JPEPA while the younger Cayetano supported it.

She also mentioned that she is the current president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union-Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians, and that part of her advocacy is for women Filipino politicians to have a fair share in governing the country. She emphasized that the NP has the most women senatorial candidates and she even said that the three women senatoriables of rival Liberal Party (LP) are “more than qualified” for the post.

Cayetano also promoted Manny Villar as the “most qualified” presidential candidate because “he is a successful businessman.” She even said that Villar is “filthy rich” for him to “get any” from the government.

However, Cayetano said that she is a “close friend” to the candidates of LP, and even described LP presidentiable Noynoy Aquino as a “very sweet” and a “very kind” man.