President Duterte will welcome the advice of former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on not running as vice president in next year’s polls, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday, June 8.
Cayetano, who was Duterte’s running mate in the 2016 presidential elections, earlier said that if the Chief Executive asks him, he will tell Duterte not to run as vice president anymore because it will hurt his “legacy.”
“I’m sure the president will listen to all these well-meaning remarks, particularly coming galing po kay dating (from former) Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano na naging running mate niya noong 2016 (who was his running mate last 2016),” Roque said.
The Palace official noted Duterte has yet to make a final decision on his possible candidacy for vice president.
“Wala pa naman pong desisyon kasi si Presidente Duterte so lahat po nang gustong magmungkahi, magbigay ng suhestiyon, welcome naman po sila dahil nasa proseso pa lang ng pagdedesisyon ang ating presidente (President Duterte hasn’t made a decision yet, so anyone who wants to give an advice, who wants to give suggestions, these are welcome because the President is still in the process of decision-making),” he added.
READ: Duterte will 'think about running for VP', says Roque
Cayetano said that since Duterte “is one of the best presidents,” his legacy might take a hit if he becomes vice president.
He added that if Duterte’s running mate will not win and he will not see eye-to-eye with whoever does, he will just be “waiting” because he will have no power for six years.
Duterte should be an “elder statesman” like former President Fidel Ramos, Cayetano said.
The President did not mention his political plans next year during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Monday night.
Roque said it was the “shortest” meeting they had because the Chief Executive came from Davao and he had a “later engagement in the same venue.”
They did not have a chance to talk about politics. “It was straightforward COVID kahapon (yesterday).”