Cayetano ‘sorts out’ issue with Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said the issue between him and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had been settled.

“Na sort out na namin ni Mayor ‘yan (The Mayor and I had sorted it out),” Cayetano said in an interview with ABS-CBN Channel.

The presidential daughter earlier said Cayetano “threatened” that he “would break up the ‘group’” if the Mayor endorses his rival for the House speakership, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, for speakership post.

READ: Sara Duterte unfazed as Cayetano ‘threatens’ to bolt admin

But Cayetano, who ran alongside President Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential elections in 2016 but lost to Vice President Leni Robredo, denied making such pronouncements.

“No’ng nagkita kami, klinarify ni Mayor Sara sabi niya; ‘Hindi ako galit pero kung yo’n ang feeling mo…’ So I was trying to explain to her: ‘Ma’am hindi iyon ang feeling ko, siguro the way I talk is different lang sa pagkaintindi mo,” Cayetano said.

(Mayor Sara had clarified with me if I was really angry, so I explained to her that that’s not how I feel. Maybe the way I talk comes across differently from what I mean.)

The former foreign affairs chief said his family has a “very close” relationship with the Dutertes.

“We’re very, very close to them and the whole family. So kahit papano ako you know and pananaw ko, ang Cayetano at saka ang Duterte magkadikit talaga (The Cayetano and Duterte families are really close),”he said.

Aside from Cayetano and Velasco, the front-runners for the House speakership include Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

The new Speaker will be chosen in an election during the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22, coinciding with the President’s State of the Nation Address. (Editor: Eden Estopace)