January 14, 2021
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A former speaker of the Philippines ’ House of Representatives has sparked outrage on social media after announcing his intent to form a new political grouping named after world-famous South Korean boy band BTS.
Alan Peter Cayetano, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte who was ousted as speaker in October, said he would form the BTS sa Kongreso (BTS in Congress) bloc with six fellow lawmakers – Representatives Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jnr, Dan Fernandez, Raneo Abu, Mike Defensor, Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado and Fredenil Castro – even mimicking the number of members in the K-pop group. The bloc is expected to be formally introduced in Congress on Thursday.
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco
Probinsyano Ako partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson lashed at Cayetano’s “BTS (Back to Service) sa Congress” coalition for acting as “spoiled brats” and for supposedly politicking.
“Honestly, they acted like self-entitled, petulant children during their little presscon. They kept on emphasizing that they will continue to work as Congressmen, despite losing their Committee Chairmanships and positions. Since when is this a pre-requisite to work?,” he said in a statement issued after Cayetano’s group held a presser in Quezon City.
“So taong bayan pa ang may utang na loob sa kanila dahil nagtratrabaho sila kahit wala silang special appointments? Talk about being spoiled brats!”
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
However, Cayetano quickly allayed the fears aired over the formation of the BTS which the former speaker described as the acronym for “back to service” or Bayanihan Tapang at Serbisyo (cooperation, courage and service).
Cayetano also quickly addressed the protest aired by fans of the BTS, a South Korean pop, who accused his group of using the popularity of the K-Pop group for political ends.
The #CayetanoStopUsingBTS started trending on social media a day after Cayetano’s media group announced that his version of BTS will be launched tomorrow.
The former House leader admitted that naming their group BTS is one way of getting “people’s attention” but is not meant at offending fans.
Published January 3, 2021, 7:24 PM
“Bagong taon na, tigilan na ang pagiging bitter (It’s the New Year, stop being bitter).”
This was Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza’s unsolicited piece of advice Sunday to former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who a few days ago accused the current House leadership of blocking the supposed plan of Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado to probe corruption allegations against some of their fellow congressmen.
Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza
(FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“That’s fake news,” said Atienza, who last month was among those elevated to the deputy speakers’ post by Cayetano’s successor, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque.
Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO)
The former head of the lower chamber took a swipe at his successor, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, after President Duterte named recently a few incumbent and former congressmen who were allegedly involved in anomalous infrastructure projects according to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
“I expect more names to be named because there are a lot of names circulating. I’m just disappointed that naunahan pa ng Presidente (the President revealed it first),” Cayetano said in an interview with reporters in Taguig City when asked to comment about Duterte’s speech last December 28.