By Marjaleen Ramos
Taguig representative Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said that the rift between him and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has already been sorted out.
Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano
(AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Na-sort out na namin ni Mayor iyan," Cayetano said in an interview with ANC Headstart.
It was in May when Duterte accused Cayetano of throwing her a “veiled threat” about her endorsement of Rep. Lord Allan Velasco for speaker. She added Cayetano visited her in Davao City "sometime last year."
Cayetano added he and his wife was hurt as they were close to Duterte's family.
"Noong nagkita kami, kinlarify ni Mayor Sara na hindi ako galit, pero kung iyun ang feeling mo — I was trying to explain to her, ma'am hindi iyun ang feeling ko. Siguro the way I talked is different lang sa pagkaintindi mo. Basically ang tema ng pag-uusap namin, 'Ma'am, don't worry. Whatever happens, hindi ako hihiwalay,'" he said.
Duterte was widely suspected as behind former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s ouster as House speaker during a coup staged at last year’s opening of regular session.
The mayor reportedly campaigned profusely for the election of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who eventually replaced Alvarez as speaker.
Cayetano, however, clarified he respects the support of the President's children for Velasco.
"Of course, I'd prefer that they like me to be their Speaker, iyung pamilya ni Presidente. It's good for children to be involved and to help influence because mahal nila tatay nila e, mahal nila iyung bansa," said Cayetano.
"It's not a matter of they just like Lord better. They probably in their mind think he can help their father better. I respect that.”