Sans Duterte, Alan Cayetano says he’s ready to go solo

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano gestures as he formally declares his intent to run for Vice President in 2016 elections during his announcement in a press conference held at Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City. KING RODRIGUEZ/INQUIRER MINDANAO

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said he is ready to “go solo” if Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would not run for president in 2016 or if he would not be chosen as the latter’s running-mate.

“Kung mag-decide si Duterte at ako naman ang piliin n’yang running-mate, ay tuloy-tuloy na po ‘yun. Kung hindi hindi, we’re ready to go solo as an independent candidate at tingnan po natin kung handa na ang ating bansa sa isang independent run…” Cayetano said in an interview over DZRH on Wednesday.

(If Duterte decides (to run) and he will choose me as a running-mate, then we will proceed. If not, I am ready to go solo as an independent candidate and we shall see if the country is ready for an independent run.)

The senator formally announced on Tuesday in Davao City that he is running for vice president in 2016.

READ: Cayetano courts Duterte

But the senator said Duterte has no final decision yet even after they met Tuesday night. The meeting, he said, started around 9 p.m. on Tuesday and ended past 1 a.m. this Wednesday.

“You know konting social and half of the time, ang pinag-usapan namin ay peace and order. Napahapyawan din po namin ‘yung pagtakbo sa 2016 pero nothing final po dahil nga ayaw naman po naming i-press na mag decision s’ya, dahil nga nasabi na naman n’ya ‘yung mga concerns na ‘yan…” said Cayetano.

(We had a little social meeting, and half of the time, we were just talking about peace and order. We also touched on a possible run in 2016, but nothing final because we did not want to pressure him into deciding as he had already expressed his concerns.)

READ: ‘I am not running but if I change my mind, I will do it’—Duterte

“Tsaka alam mo ang presidente, hindi n’ya hinahangad yan, destiny ‘yan. But he’s conscious naman na ang filing ng COC (certificate of candidacy) ay October 12 to 16 so I’m confident that in a few days, he’ll make a right decision not only for himself but for the country,” said the senator.

(Besides, the presidency is not coveted—it’s destiny. But he’s conscious that the filing of the COCs is from October 12 to 16, so I’m confident that in a few days, he’ll make a right decision not only for himself but for the country.)

Cayetano also confirmed that he had a “private discussion” with President Benigno Aquino III last Wednesday but denied that there was any kind of pressures during the meeting.

“It’s mostly a private discussion… nagkaisa kami sa anti-corruption, sa napakaraming program… Hindi po totoo na may kahit anong pressure. Napag-usapan ang BBL pero nirespeto ko ang stand n’ya, at nirespeto din naman n’ya ang stand ko,” he said.

(It’s mostly a private discussion…we agreed on anti-corruption and a slew of other programs. It’s not true that there was any kind of pressure. We talked about BBL, but I respect his stand, and he respects mine.) Maila Ager/IDL

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