Composed and respectful: Senate’s “Mr. Cool”

Reading Neal H. Cruz’s column “Why is Binay afraid of Senate probe?” (Opinion, 8/25/14) encouraged me to express my appreciation for the guy I consider the Philippine Senate’s “Mr. Cool.”

I admire Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for his ability to remain cool and dignified during Senate hearings, which some of his colleagues otherwise use as opportunities to resort to histrionics as they grandstand for the viewing public.

Listening to an AM radio station during a taxi ride last Aug. 20, I could hear him very calmly and diplomatically telling Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay not to easily dismiss these corruption-related accusations against him, his  father the Vice President or any of his family members as being merely politically motivated. He added that he would be happy to invite the VP to future hearings so that he could defend himself and deny the accusations related to the allegedly overpriced Makati parking building.

I observed Senator Cayetano’s composed demeanor for the first time some years ago in a TV news report which showed a former senator much older than him questioning or contradicting him about something (I forgot exactly what it was) in a rather hostile tone. I was impressed that Senator Cayetano replied in a still composed and respectful manner (others would have responded cantankerously), while I got peeved at the former senator for being unreasonably high-strung.

I just hope Senator Cayetano does not change in this regard.

—CLAUDE LUCAS C. DESPABILADERAS,

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