Senator Sherwin Gatchalian maintained on Saturday, August 7, that his vice presidential bid will depend on whether or not he will be picked by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as her running mate for next year's elections.
In an interview with radio DWIZ, Gatchalian clarified that his plan to run for vice president remains "very fluid" and that he is still waiting for Duterte to decide about his proposition.
The senator previously discussed with Duterte his political plan.
"Alam ko si Mayor Sara ay nag-iisip at gumagawa ng konsultasyon -- tayo rin gumagawa ng konsultasyon -- pero pagdating sa interes, talaga nag-usap kami ni Mayor Sara. Pinahiwatig ko sa kanya 'yong aking seryosong interes para tumakbo bilang bise president (I know Mayor Sara is thinking about it and is consulting people -- I am also holding consultations -- but when it comes to interest, Mayor Sara and I already talked. I already indicated my serious interest to run for vice president)," Gatchalian said, reiterating that he will only be running for the country's second highest post if Duterte is his running mate.
He said he has yet to meet Duterte anew about their possible tandem, noting that the city mayor has her hands full responding also to her constituents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nagkatrabaho na kami kaya tingin ko marami kaming, as a tandem, marami kaming magagawa, dahil 'yong aming kaalaman at 'yong aming work ethics ay pareho (We previously worked together that's why I believe that we, as a tandem, will achieve many things, because we have the same knowledge and work ethics)," said Gatchalian, who was a former mayor himself.
Asked about Senate President Vicente Sotto, who is his partymate in the National People's Coalition (NPC) and has already expressed intention to join the vice presidential race, Gatchalian said their initial talk has so far been good.
They are keeping an "open" mind to possibilities, he added.
"Sabi namin ay 'pag naging definite na, mag-uusap kami ulit (We agreed to talk again when things are definite)," Gatchalian said.
"Malaki ang respeto ko kay SP Sotto at siya ang chairman ng aming partido at hindi lang respeto, kundi hanga. Nakatrabaho ko siya at nakita ko 'yong kanyang galing at sinseridad (I respect Senate President Sotto as chairman of our party and I don't only respect him, I admire him. I worked with him and I saw his competency and sincerity)," he added.
Sotto, for his part, said of Gatchalian: "As far as I know, he is waiting to be picked by Sara."
Will Gatchalian leave the NPC if runs alongside Duterte?
"No talks to that effect," Sotto told the Manila Bulleitin on Saturday.
Gatchalian said he hopes to decide by mid-September, weeks before the scheduled filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) from October 1 to 8.
Duterte currently leads the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), which a number of national political parties sought to be allied with for the upcoming elections.