Trillanes and Cayetano: From allies to rivals?

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

“May the best man win,” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Thursday as the name of his party-mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has been floated as one of his possible rivals in the vice presidential race in 2016.

The two are both members of the Nacionalista Party (NP) being headed by former Senator Manny Villar.

“Everybody has the right to offer himself as an alternative in 2016 so bahala na ang taumbayan kung sino ang palagay nilang pinakang nararapat (so it’s up to the people to decide on who they think deserves it),” Trillanes told reporters.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Wednesday that Cayetano is the next best option in the Liberal Party’s (LP) search for a running mate for Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in 2016. Roxas himself and many LP members have publicly expressed their preference for Senator Grace Poe, who has yet to decide whether or not to run for higher post next year.

READ: Cayetano proposed as Roxas VP

Trillanes said he was also told that he was one the LP’s “alternatives” to become Roxas’ running mate but he was quick to clarify t that the message did not come from Roxas himself but with some “relevant” people in the LP.

Asked if there are still ongoing discussions with the LP, Trillanes said: “Wala. Nagpaalam ako as early as June so wala na.”

On Wednesday, the senator announced that the Magdalo group is supporting Poe’s possible presidential run next year. Maila Ager/IDL

READ: Trillanes, Magdalo backing Grace Poe’s possible presidential bid