Cayetano won’t quit Senate presidency dream; to see Duterte
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. PHOTO BY KING RODRIGUEZ/INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is set to meet with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to discuss the looming battle between him and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III for the Senate presidency.
In a Radyo Inquirer report on Wednesday, neophyte Senator Joel Villanueva said that it was Pimentel who told him that Cayetano and Duterte would meet this week—a sign that the losing vice presidential candidate was still not giving up the highest post in the Senate.
Villanueva said that he hoped that Pimentel and Cayetano would be able to reach an agreement as to who would become the next Senate President.
READ: Koko to Alan: Only senators can choose Senate president
The neophyte senator also said that both Pimentel and Cayetano offered him the chairmanship of the labor committee.
Pimentel has claimed that he has the backing of the “supermajority” to become the next Senate President. He has even named senators to some posts, such as outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon as the Senate pro-tempore; Sen. Vicente Sotto III as majority leader, Sen. Panfilo Lacson as chair of the public order and dangerous drugs committee; and Sen. Leila de Lima as head of the justice committee.
READ: Koko woos Alan to Senate ‘supermajority’
Cayetano was Duterte’s running-mate in the May 9 elections. He has expressed misgivings on the proposed appointments of Lacson and De Lima to their posts. AJH/ With a report from Jong Manlapaz, Radyo Inquirer/CDG/rga
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