Video by Cathy Miranda
MANILA, Philippines—Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he would leave it to the Filipino people to decide whether or not he should join the 2016 presidential race.
Asked during a press briefing at the Senate on Thursday about his plans in 2016, Cayetano said: “Ibabalik ko sa tao, ano ang balak nila sa akin?”
He said many people are telling him that his chances are affected by his hardline positions on certain issues like his withdrawal of support from the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law following the death of 44 elite policemen in the bloody Mamasapano operation.
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“But I have to do this,” said Cayetano, who earlier hinted his desire to run for president in 2016.
“If we get over the hop … around June or July, titingnan ko kung sino ang gusto ng tao. Kung isa ako sa pinili nila, eh di lalahok tayo. Kung hindi, hahanap tayo ng masusuportahan natin na kapareho natin ng prinsipyo,” he added.
Cayetano said his political group, the Nacionalista Party, still believes that it is a “viable alternative.”
Asked if former senator and NP president Manny Villar is still being considered as possible standard-bearer of the party, the senator said: “Let him answer that.”
“Of course as our party president and a former candidate, sa amin parati namin syang kino-consider na viable na tumakbo but it’s his personal decision, sila nang mag-asawa siguro ang magsabi kung gusto nila o hindi,” Cayetano said. Villar’s wife is Sen. Cynthia Villar.
The former senator ran but lost to President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.