Cayetano still pursuing Duterte

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Senator and vice presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano will not give up that easily on Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Cayetano is till prodding Duterte to run for president even after the Oct. 16 deadline for the filing of the certificate of candidacy lapsed and the local executive only filed for reelection.

“You just do not give up that easily on somebody who is so magaling (good) like Mayor Duterte,” Cayetano told The STAR on arrival at a local hotel here where he met with Duterte late Friday night. 

Cayetano said only the mayor, compared to the other presidential hopefuls, can offer the best for the country. Cayetano was accompanied by his wife Taguig City Mayor Laarni and his brother Ren during the meeting.

But Duterte reiterated his stand that he would not seek the presidency, even with the speculations that he would substitute for Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) presidential candidate Martin Dino come Dec. 10.

“Why would I substitute for somebody when I could have filed my own COC for president if I wanted to? But I did not,” Duterte, who is also known for his straightforwardness, said. 

He showed his support for Cayetano though when he had the senator as guest in his “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” weekly TV show that will be aired today.