No VP bid for Cayetano in 2022 polls: ‘It’s president or re-election’

MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is only considering two positions for the national elections next year—presidency or re-election in the House of Representatives.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Cayetano said he is not considering running for the vice presidential post, which he sought in the 2016 with his running mate and eventual president Rodrigo Duterte.

“I’m considering just either running for president or for reelection sa position ko ngayon. ‘Yun nga sabi ko kung mapapasa naman ‘yung five-year plan at saka ‘yung P10K [ayuda], I can help regardless ano ‘yung capacity ko,” Cayetano said.

“I’m not really considering for vice president. May mga nagsasabi na puwedeng mag-senador, but I’m really contemplating muna kung ano ang magiging future natin in the first year after Duterte,” he added.

Cayetano said he will make an announcement on his plans for the 2022 elections in the next few weeks, the latest being September.

READ: It’s better for Duterte to be an ‘elder statesman’ than run for VP, says Cayetano

Meanwhile, Cayetano said he has also yet to receive an invitation to physically attend Duterte’s final State of the Nation Address (Sona).

To recall, it was Duterte who initiated a term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco for the House speakership post.

Cayetano was ousted in October 2020 following a push from his allies for him to stay in power even as it was Velasco’s turn to assume the post.

JE