‘That’s enough,’ Lino tells brother Alan over remark at Aquino kin

MANILA, Philippines — Film director Lino Cayetano on Thursday called out his older brother, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, following the latter’s remarks against civil society leader Francis “Kiko” Aquino-Dee that referenced the long-standing political feud between the Aquinos and the Marcoses.

Lino, who was recently appointed by President Marcos as People’s Television (PTV) general manager, commented on an Inquirer quote card on Instagram, saying, “Hay. Tama na (That’s enough), Alan. Apologies to the Aquino family.”

In that quote card, Alan Peter told Aquino-Dee: “Just remember who you are, Kiko. Aquino ka e, hindi ka Kiko Dee-Marcos. Don’t get instructions from the administration.”

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Lino noted that the senator’s remark came during the death anniversary of Aquino-Dee’s uncle, the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, on June 24, which was also the death anniversary of their father, former Sen. Rene Cayetano.

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“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,” the former Taguig congressman said.

READ: Trillanes sues Cayetano, Marcoleta over ‘sham’ Senate hearing, ICC lies

Aquino-Dee is the grandson of former President Corazon Aquino, who toppled the 20-year rule of Marcos Sr., the President’s father, through the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.

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He is also a convenor of Tindig Pilipinas and an outspoken critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who counts Alan Peter as an ally.

Aquino-Dee has declined to comment when sought out for a reaction by the Inquirer.

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‘Simply reminding’

Alan Peter’s statement against Aquino-Dee was a reaction to the complaint filed by Tindig Pilipinas against him, Sen. Robinhood Padilla, and suspended Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly aiding fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to evade arrest.

The senator, in a Facebook post on Thursday, said he was just “simply reminding” that Filipinos should fight against “cheating, stealing, and lying.”

“We honor our parents, loved ones and heroes by acknowledging them, by fighting for what they fought for. In our own imperfect ways the Aquinos and Cayetanos, the Santos’, De Jesus’, mga Cruz, and tens of millions of Filipinos fought against cheating, stealing, and lying,” said Alan Peter, who was ousted as Senate president on June 3.

“If you are fighting against these, then we are comrades. If you forgot, I’m simply reminding. If you are scared of the alternative, we are saying ‘huwag matakot’ (do not be afraid). If you are comfortable, enjoying the perks of power, thus conveniently ignoring the cheating, stealing, and lying, shame on you!” he added.

History with Marcoses

This is not the first time that Lino spoke up against his brother.

In September last year, he publicly disagreed with Alan Peter’s claims that everyone was guilty of “vote-buying, cheating, and lying.”

“These are the kinds of statements from traditional politicians that spark anger,” he said.

In October 2025, he dared his brother, who called for mass resignation of elective officials following the flood control corruption scandal, to lead by example. “I support this proposal. I agree with my brother Alan and ask that we start with ourselves. Give up power,” he wrote on Facebook.

The brothers’ political rift seemingly started when Alan Peter openly endorsed another congressional candidate, instead of Lino, in the 2025 elections.

Ironically, the Cayetanos themselves had political ties with the Marcoses going back to the time when their father was elected assemblyman to the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, during the term of Marcos Sr.

At that time, the Cayetano patriarch ran under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), a political party founded by Marcos Sr.

Following the Marcoses’ exile post-Edsa, KBL disintegrated and broke into new factions. Rene Cayetano ended up with the Nacionalista Party (NP), which he helped revive.

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In the 1987 Senate elections, he was made campaign manager of Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD), the umbrella organization of opposition parties at the time, which included KBL, NP and the United Nationalist Democratic Organization or Unido. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH