Lino Cayetano, Lacson disagree with Sen. Alan Cayetano's 'collective guilt' remark

Former Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano disagreed with his brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's, statement that Filipinos are collectively guilty of corruption and that repentance is enough.

Senator Alan Cayetano remarked during a Facebook Live session that "As a people, I'm not finger-pointing. We're all guilty from vote-buying to cheating, stealing to lying. What is important is repentance."

Lino Cayetano countered on Facebook, calling his brother's statement typical of traditional politicians that fuels public anger, adding that ordinary Filipinos are mostly God-fearing and want a peaceful life.

He also stated that stealing, vote-buying, and lying are not natural, and that repentance alone is not a solution or absolution.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson agreed with Lino Cayetano, warning that repentance alone, without corresponding corrective action, is not enough to cleanse public officials of corruption.

Lacson shared Lino Cayetano's remarks on X (formerly Twitter), stating that he knows government officials who repeatedly stole public funds, repented, stole again, and repented again.

Lacson emphasized that repentance without accountability only perpetuates a cycle of impunity, harming the public.