GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Alan Cayetano still ‘not losing hope’ on Duterte presidential bid
"We've talked on the phone, and we're going to talk again in person in a few days," Cayetano said in a forum on Wednesday, as he continued to express hope that Duterte, who opted to seek re-election instead, will have a change of heart.
"Let me just say, we're not losing hope," said Cayetano, who is seeking the vice presidency in next year's elections. He said their next conversation would be "a free-flowing discussion. Ayaw ko naman siyang pangunahan."
He quoted Duterte as saying during their phone call that his family was "okay," but Cayetano also noted, "Sinabi niya lang sa akin, 'Alan, hindi ko talaga ambisyon 'to, hindi naiintindihan ng iba.'"
Cayetano said he told Duterte that the clamor persists because people believe in him.
'Duterte is coming'
During the last day of filing of COCs last Friday, Cayetano had hoped that Duterte would be at the Comelec main office in Manila to file his COC for president.
On Sept. 29, Cayetano declared his vice presidential bid in Duterte's turf and even had dinner with the mayor that same day.
December 11
At the press forum on Wednesday, Cayetano said he remains hopeful after Duterte made remarks about leaving the matter up to God, and added that he understands the mayor's desire to take care of his sick wife.
Still, when asked to name a presidential aspirant -- aside from Duterte -- who he can be identified with the most, Cayetano replied: "Can you ask me on December 11?"
Cayetano pointed out that Duterte still has until December 10 to withdraw his COC for re-election and become the substitute presidential candidate for his party, PDP Laban.
"I am a man of faith and prayer and I'm still praying na maging okay 'yung wife niya at magkaisa rin 'yung family. Also that he finds it in his heart to serve the Filipino people," he said.
Duterte's party mate, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) chairman Martin Diño, filed his COC for president last Friday, the last day of filing.
Both Diño and Duterte denied that this was done to open the door for the mayor to substitute.
A report on GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas on Tuesday, meanwhile, quoted the Commission on Elections regional office in Davao as saying that Duterte filed his COC as a member of his local party Hugpong sa Taong Lungsod and not as a member of PDP-Laban, which might not make him eligible for substitution.
However, according to GMA Davao reporter Tek Ocampo on Wednesday, Comelec Asst. Regional Dir. Atty. Marlon Casquejo said the legal department is looking into the legality of Duterte possibly dropping his affiliation with Hugpong sa Taong Lungsod in favor of PDP-Laban.
'Public clamor a problem'
At Wednesday's forum, Cayetano said Duterte's seeming indecisiveness is not because of the mayor being unable to make up his mind, but the public clamor for his presidential bid.
"Unang-una, hindi siya nagfi-flipflop, kasi hindi niya sinabing tatakbo siya... The problem is the public clamor... Si Mayor Duterte lang ang may clamor. Saan kayo nakakita nu'ng sinabing hindi tatakbo, umiyak 'yung hindi niya kaanu-ano? Ilan na ba ang nagpakalbo? Pati dalawang kapatid ko, nagpakalbo," he said.
A number of supporters had shaved their heads last week to call on Duterte to run for president. Even Duterte's daughter, Inday Sara, participated in this.
He added: "Hindi sa ayaw siyang paniwalaan. Ayaw tanggapin... He has said 'no' time and time again, pero ang tao ay nangungulit."
Cayetano admits to being one of these persistent believers, reiterating that while he aspires to be Duterte's running-mate, he would support the mayor even if the latter ends up with another vice presidential candidate. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News
