Alan Cayetano wants to be speaker in 18th Congress

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has served notice that he would seek the speakership if he wins the seat to represent the lone district of Pateros and Taguig.

In an interview with reporters covering President Rodrigo Duterte's trip to Bali, Cayetano admitted that vying for the House leadership was not a simple task.

"I will seek the leadership position in the House but it's a complex matter. You have to win first sa district mo, and I want to focus on that first," Cayetano said.

"Then you have to win the trust and confidence of the whole Congress, especially na may specific vision tayo," he added.

Duterte attended the ASEAN leaders' gathering in Indonesia, where he also met with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo to discuss trade and anti-terror initiatives.

Cayetano said he and Duterte agreed that a leadership position in Congress was good for their agenda.

Cayetano was Duterte's running mate in the 2016 elections.

"The President has a vision for the country of a safe and comfortable life for everyone. I was with him, like millions of Filipinos during the journey, so I really want him to succeed," Cayetano said.

"So we had a heart-to-heart talk, and we both agreed that a role in Congress and a leadership position in Congress would be good in terms of pursuing that vision," he added. —NB, GMA News