Alan Cayetano: I don’t bend my principles for Duterte

Vice presidential aspirant Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano . FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said he was not compromising his principles to please his running mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Cayetano said he and Duterte may differ on their stance on some issues, but they share the same “core values.”

“Wala po akong nilulunok na prinsipyo (I have no principle to swallow),” Cayetano said over radio DZMM when asked about Duterte’s iron-fist style of leadership and open declarations that he had killed criminals in Davao.

READ: Duterte openly admits killing 3 criminals in Davao City

“There are things na medyo opposite kami, pero ang core values namin, magkapareho,” he said.

Cayetano said the public just needed to get used to the tough-talking mayor’s manner of speaking, noting that Duterte cannot be taught to be politically correct.

“You have to get used on how he answers. Hindi mo pwedeng turuan maging politically correct ang isang Mayor Duterte. He will answer you kung ano sa tingin niya ang tama, but you have to take his statements together,” the senator said.

“Just go to Davao ask the people kung takot sila (if they are afraid). Kriminal lang ang takot doon eh (Only the criminals are afraid there),” he said.

READ: Duterte on criminals: ‘Kill all of them’

Cayetano urged Filipinos to vote for Duterte even if they are supporting other bets for vice president.

“The reality is, support ang VP eh. Ang main man ang President. Ang priority ko, siya (Duterte),” he said. “Kung ‘yung iba maka-Bongbong, Chiz, Leni pero Duterte kayo? By all means susuportahan ko kayo. Kailangan natin ng pagbabago.”

(…My priority is [Duterte]. If others are for Bongbong [Marcos], Chiz [Escudero], Leni [Robredo], but you go for Duterte? By all means I will support you. We need change.) TVJ

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