Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is still hoping that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will run for president in 2016.
“He has asked for more time, more soul searching. (It’s not easy to decide) to take a leap of faith for national office,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the World Teachers’ Day held at Cuneta Astrodome on Monday.
Cayetano said he believed that Duterte will come up with the “right decision.”
“Tingin ko, hindi niya mare-resist ang clamor ng mga tao (I think he won’t be able to resist the clamor of the people),” he said.
“Hindi survey, hindi partido ang nagtutulak sa kanya kung hindi mga tao (The public will be the ones to persuade him, not any survey or party),” he added.
Cayetano met with Duterte to reportedly convince him to run for president. Last week, the senator announced that he will run for vice president in the national elections next year.
“It’s really his choice. All we can do is hope and pray he has the best partner. I said the partner is worth waiting for,” he said.
Duterte is also reportedly also in talks with Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who is believed to be running for vice president and is looking for a presidential running mate.
The Davao City mayor has earlier announced that he will not run for president but said he is reconsidering his decision.
“I will not change my loyalty or change my choice of president just because kukunin ako or hindi… I think Mayor Duterte is the best candidate, he’ll make a great president whether or not he chooses me,” Cayetano said. (MNS)