Roxas-Cayetano tandem ‘out of the picture’—Drilon

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (left) and LP standard-bearer and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (right). INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Senate President Franklin Drilon ruled out on Thursday the possibility of a Roxas-Cayetano tandem in the 2016 elections.

Roxas is former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party’s (LP) standard-bearer, while Cayetano is Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who earlier declared his vice presidential bid.

“Sa ngayon si Senator Alan ay mukhang ang kanyang napupusuan na ka-running mate—kung sakaling mang tumakbo—ay si Digong Duterte, na mayor ng Davao. So sa tingin ko ay medyo out of the picture na ang Roxas-Cayetano,” Drilon, vice chairman of LP, said in an interview over DZRH, when asked if there was an indication that a Roxas-Cayetano tandem would still push through.

(For now, Senator Alan seems to want—should he decide to run—Digong Duterte, Davao [City] mayor as his running mate. So I think “Roxas-Cayetano” is already out of the picture.)

He was referring to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who has repeatedly said that he would not join the 2016 presidential race.

READ: Drilon: Leni Robredo is LP’s VP

Drilon earlier said that Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo was already their candidate for vice president but the latter said she has yet to decide on it.

Asked if the party had a plan B should they fail to convince Robredo, the Senate leader said: “Wala kaming plan B.”

(We have no plan B.)

READ: VP offer: It ain’t over ’til Leni Robredo says it’s over

Asked if they were already sure about Robredo, the Senate leader said, talks are still ongoing.

“Nag-uusap kami. Ito naman ay laging walang sigurado,” he said.

(We are talking. This has always no certainty.)

“Si Leni ay pinag-iisipan pa niya, kinokonsulta ang kaniyang mga anak, ngunit talagang inalok kay Leni ang pagka-vice presidential candidate dahil siya ang sa aming tingin, ang modelo ng good governance, ng prinsipyo ng ‘Daang Matuwid,’” Drilon added.

(Leni is still thinking about it, she’s consulting her children, but Leni was offered to be the [party’s] vice presidential candidate because we think that she is the model of good governance and the principle of “Daang Matuwid [straight path].”) Maila Ager/RAM