Dependent on Duterte? Cayetano says he can stand on own merits

“I shouldn’t even run if I cannot.”

This was how vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano defended himself from observations that he could not campaign without using the name of his running mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

During the live INQ&A of INQUIRER.net on Monday, a netizen asked Cayetano if he could campaign without using the name of Duterte.

“So, can I campaign on my own merits? I shouldn’t even run if I cannot,” the senator said.

READ: Cayetano: You may forget about me but vote for Duterte

He urged the public to look at his track record as a lawmaker, which he said would show that he’s capable to run for the second highest elected post in the country.

“I have my own public record,” he said, citing his career as a councilor, a representative and eventually as a senator.

But why is the senator always mentioning Duterte in his speeches?

READ: Duterte: Cayetano has to work harder

“We’re the only group that really believes in each other,” he said, adding  his rivals rarely or did not even mention their running mates during the vice presidential debate.

“I didn’t hear Chiz talk much about Grace; I didn’t hear Leni talk about Mar, mentioning once or twice, but my question is, why don’t they talk much more about their running mates?” he said.

During the debate, Cayetano reiterated his and Duterte’s plan to bust crime and illegal drugs within the first six months if elected into office.

The senator also pushed for federalism to empower local governments and as a solution to the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

Even if the Philippines has a good vice president, Cayetano said it would be hard for the country to solve its problems if it has a “lousy president.”

“You can have the best vice-president kung lousy and president mo, you can’t have anything done,” he said. IDL