Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he would decide either in June or July this year whether or not to pursue his presidential bid in 2016.
Cayetano was firm in seeking the presidency as he repeatedly rejected the idea of running for vice president.
READ: Cayetano on 2016 bid: ‘I don’t know’
“If I do run, I’ll run for president not because it’s not an honor, it’s not a step up, it’s not an extraordinary privilege to be vice president but because if you run for vice president, hindi mo mai-implement ‘yung (vision) mo e and I won’t be the type of vice president who’ll keep quiet and magsisipsip sa presidente para lang after six years, ikaw ang i-endorse. In any position I take, I will be outspoken…” he said during a weekly forum at the Senate Thursday.
(If I do run, I’ll run for president not because it’s not an honor, it’s not a step up, it’s not an extraordinary privilege to be vice president but because if you run for vice president, you cannot implement (your vision), and I won’t be the type of vice president who will just suck up to the president so I can get his endorsement. In any position I take, I will be outspoken…)
“If you’re going to run, you have to run to make a difference and I think I’ll make a bigger difference if I ( run for) president but I’ll decide that somewhere June or July,” he said.
READ: Cayetano eyes 2016 run
But Cayetano said he would be willing to sacrifice his ambition in exchange for peace in Mindanao.
“I think this issue is bigger than the presidency. Nabanggit ko nga kahapon, kung makakaapekto ito sa chances ko, kung sinasabi ng iba ay maaapektuhan ‘yung chances ko…mas gusto ko pang hindi maging presidente na magka-peace at umunlad ang Mindanao at hindi mapahiwalay sa Pilipinas kaysa maging presidente ka, humiwalay naman ang Mindanao o magkagiyera sa Mindanao,” he said.
(I think this issue is bigger than the presidency. As I mentioned yesterday, if this will affect my chances like what some people are saying, then I would rather not be president so there would be peace and progress in Mindanao and it would not secede from the Philippines.)
“It’s not that I don’t care. I’ll be a hypocrite if I say that I don’t care but I’m willing to lose, I’m willing not to be president, I’m willing not to run or not to be president but I’m not willing to lose Mindanao and I’m not willing that we cause an all-out war or a civil war in Mindanao,” said Cayetano, who withdrew his support for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, following the January 25 Mamasapano incident.
READ: Bangsamoro law support in Congress suffers setback
The senator then took a swipe at candidates who were silent on certain issues for fear of possible effects on their bids.
“Kasi ngayon, nagiging uso less talk, less mistakes so maraming kandidato hindi nagbibigay ng stand nila whether sa mga kontrobersya na katulad sa RH (Reproductive Health), whether dito sa Mamasapano, etc. o ang ibibigay motherhood statements,” he said.
(Because now the trend is less talk, less mistakes, so there are many candidates who do not air their stand on controversial issues like RH, the Mamasapano incident, etc. or they would only issue motherhood statements)
“Bakit? ‘Pag motherhood statement ka, general statements, wala kang masasakatan e so ‘yung voters mo intact. Ang problema hindi ito magbibigay ng solution. Ang problema, ‘pag naging president biglang surprise di ba?”
(Why? Because if you give a motherhood statement, general statements, no one will be hurt, your voters are intact . The problem is it does not provide you a solution. The problem is, when [a candidate] becomes president, then you’ll just be surprised)
Cayetano said that unlike other candidates, he would not sacrifice who he is and what he believes in just to win in the elections.
“Ganun ‘yung trapo (traditional politician) e. Alamin mo kung ano ‘yung gusto ng tao tapos baguhin mo ‘yung sarili mo para masunod yung gusto ng tao. But are you sure na ‘yung gusto at kelangan ng tao e pareho?” he further asked.
(That’s how traditional politicians operate. They find out what people want, and they change themselves to fit that mold. But are you sure that what the people want is the same to what they need?) ID