MANILA, Philippines — Spotlighting an intense public fracture within one of the country’s most prominent political dynasties, a high-ranking state media official has issued a blunt rebuke to his own brother over aggressive political mudslinging. People’s Television Network (PTV-4) General Manager Lino Cayetano publicly called out his older brother, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, following sarcastic remarks targeted at civil society leader Francis “Kiko” Aquino-Dee.
The internal family clash played out on social media, with Lino taking the extraordinary step of issuing a direct apology to the Aquino family for his brother’s behavior.
The public feud erupted after the civil society group Tindig Pilipinas, where Aquino-Dee serves as a convener, filed an obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla, and suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. The complaint alleges the trio aided fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in evading arrest under his international warrant.
Responding directly to the legal filing in a video broadcast, a defiant Senator Alan lashed out at Aquino-Dee—who is the grandson of the late democracy icon President Corazon Aquino and the nephew of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III:
“Just remember who you are, Kiko. You are an Aquino, you are not Kiko Dee-Marcos. Don’t get instructions from the administration.” — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
The controversial remark explicitly weaponized the historical, decades-long political blood feud between the Aquino and Marcos families, suggesting the progressive advocate was serving as an administrative puppet.
The senator’s commentary drew swift, public pushback from his younger brother. Commenting directly beneath an Inquirer digital quote card on Instagram on Thursday, Lino Cayetano shut down the rhetoric:
[ THE INSTAGRAM FAMILY REBUKE ]
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“Hay. Tama na, Alan. Apologies to the Aquino family.”
— *Lino Cayetano, PTV-4 General Manager*
Lino heavily criticized the poor timing of the political broadsides, reminding his older brother that the remarks directly coincided with June 24—marking both the 5th death anniversary of former President Noynoy Aquino and the anniversary of the passing of their own father, the late former Senator Rene Cayetano.
“Perhaps this is a good day for prayer, reflection, and quiet remembrance for honoring those we have all lost and recommitting ourselves to serving the Filipino people through our actions,” Lino, a former Taguig City mayor and congressman, added.
Rather than backing down, Senator Alan Peter doubled down on his stance in a lengthy Facebook follow-up, claiming no single family owns a monopoly on political legacies. “We honor our parents, loved ones, and heroes by acknowledging them, by fighting for what they fought for,” the senator wrote, claiming he was simply reminding the public to fight against “cheating, stealing, and lying.”
[ THE CAYETANO SIBLING SCHISM FACTORS ] │ ▼[ Palace Alignments ] ──► The public dispute underscores major political realignments. Lino was recently appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to head state-run PTV-4, cementing his alignment with Malacañang. │ ▼[ Senate Friction ] ──► Conversely, Senator Alan Peter has frequently locked horns with the current administration, increasingly positioning himself alongside pro-Duterte opposition factions in the Senate. │ ▼[ Local Turf Wars ] ──► The sibling rift is further complicated by local dynamics; the friction originally sparked during the 2025 midterms when Alan openly endorsed an outside rival against Lino in Taguig's 1st District.
By laying bare their ideological divide on a national stage, the Cayetano brothers have demonstrated how deeply shifting national alliances can split even the closest political families—converting an institutional remembrance day into a highly public debate over political maturity and rhetoric.