Cayetano, not Marcos, to blame for failed P10,000 aid – Palace

Manila, Philippines, The Philippine government has refuted claims by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. blocked his proposal for a P10,000 cash assistance program for every Filipino family. According to palace officials, the failure of the initiative lies with Cayetano's own actions rather than any obstruction from the president. During a press briefing held on July 20, 2026, Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that there was no basis for Marcos to have rejected the proposal since Cayetano had already submitted the measure prior to the president taking office. This assertion comes in response to Cayetano's recent allegations that Marcos had refused to support his plan for universal financial aid. Castro emphasized that the responsibility for the stalled proposal rests squarely on Cayetano. She pointed out that the senator had previously made similar promises while serving in Congress, yet none of these initiatives had progressed beyond the initial stages. “Senator Alan Cayetano’s shortcomings, his slow pace and inability to fulfill his promises, should not be blamed on others,” Castro remarked. To back her claims, Castro presented several newspaper articles from 2021 and 2022, which detailed Cayetano's early advocacy for the cash aid program. These documents highlighted that the proposal had been introduced well before Marcos assumed the presidency. “If a proposal is beneficial and feasible, there’s no reason it can’t be passed. And when the 2022 national budget was approved, President Marcos Jr. wasn't even President yet,” she noted. Furthermore, Castro criticized Cayetano for not fully believing in his own proposal. She suggested that even former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is considered a political ally of Cayetano, seemed skeptical about the feasibility of the P10,000 aid package. “It seems he doesn’t even believe in his own proposed bill, and it appears he hasn’t studied it thoroughly, because he’s asking for around P200 billion,” Castro said. In a separate communication via Viber, Castro accused Cayetano of spreading unfounded narratives. She argued that instead of accepting accountability for his lack of progress, the senator was deflecting blame onto others to avoid embarrassment. “Why can’t Sen. Alan Cayetano stop himself from stirring up intrigue and peddling baseless stories? Instead of acknowledging his own negligence in his duties, he points fingers at others just to save himself from embarrassment. He passes the work he fails to accomplish onto other people,” she wrote. Cayetano has faced criticism from various quarters for his handling of legislative proposals. Earlier this year, Senator Bongbong Marcos, the president's son, had called for greater accountability among lawmakers regarding their commitments. Meanwhile, some members of the opposition have expressed concern over the potential impact of unfulfilled campaign promises on public trust in the political process. The controversy surrounding the P10,000 aid proposal underscores broader issues within the legislative branch concerning the implementation of populist policies. While such programs often gain traction during election seasons, they frequently face challenges related to funding, bureaucratic hurdles, and political will once implemented. As the debate continues, attention will remain focused on whether Cayetano can provide evidence supporting his claims against the administration. The situation highlights the need for transparency and follow-through in political commitments, especially as the country navigates economic uncertainties and social challenges.