Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano denies joking about Tiu getting kidnapped

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano denied that he made a joke out of the possibility of businessman Antonio Tiu being kidnapped.

At the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee’s investigation on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay, Cayetano stressed that he “never take[s] kidnapping lightly.”

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“Never ko po ginawang biro ang kidnapping,” said Cayetano, adding that it was Tiu who exposed himself by saying that the assets of his company are worth P5 billion.

The ‘misunderstood’ exchange

Cayenao claimed, “Si Mr. Tiu ang nag-umpisa nito. Sabi niya ang worth ng kumpanya niya ay P5 billion. Sabi niya marami siyang pera. At sabi niya very successful siyang negosyante.”

The senator said he only asked Tiu if he is willing to open his bank accounts to prove that he is capable of buying the vast estate in Rosario, Batangas, which is being linked to the Vice President.

“Siya nagsabi, ‘Sir you’re subjecting me to kidnapping,'” Cayetano said. “Then tinanong ko siya, ‘How can I subject you to kidnapping when you said you had P5 billion?'”

“Ang problema cinut ni Mr. Tiu ang palitan namin,” he added.

Tiu, who claims to be the legitimate owner of the 145-estate in Rosario, Batangas through his Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp., on Wednesday said his appearance before the Senate has affected his security and that of his family.

Tiu stressed that kidnapping is a serious threat, especially to the members of the Chinese-Filipino community.

He also slammed Cayetano for maligning him by trying to pin him down on accusations that he is a dummy of the Vice President.

Anti-kidnapping advocate reacts

Meanwhile, anti-kidnapping advocate Teresita Ang-See also criticized Cayetano, calling the senator’s remarks on kidnapping as “insensitive” and “uncalled for.”

“Kahit na he’s poking fun at Antonio Tiu, it is still in bad faith… ‘Talagang nakakalungkot. Parang ano ba ang gusto iparating, kapag kaya magbayad ng ransom okay na?” she told radio dzMM.

She added that when the issue of kidnapping was mentioned in the Senate last week, she received text messages from members of the Chinese-Filipino community saying that they were offended by Cayetano’s comments.