Congressional candidate and former Taguig mayor Lino Cayetano said not getting the endorsement of his family affected their relationship.

Lino Cayetano, who is also a TV director, is running for congressman in the 1st District of Taguig and Pateros against incumbent Rep. Ricardo “Ading” Cruz Jr., who was endorsed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife, incumbent Mayor Lani Cayetano.

In a YouTube interview with showbiz personality Ogie Diaz uploaded on Nov. 11, Lino Cayetano discussed the issues surrounding his congressional bid and teared up as he talked about his dad, the late senator Rene Cayetano.

Lino Cayetano donated part of his liver to his dad.

Rene Cayetano died in 2003.

Former Taguig mayor and congressional candidate Lino Cayetano with Ogie Diaz (Screenshot from Diaz's video on YouTube)

Former Taguig mayor and congressional candidate Lino Cayetano cries as he recalled his dad (top photo) and shows the scar when he donated part of his liver to his dad (Screenshots from Diaz's video on YouTube)

His congressional bid faced a roadblock when the Election Registration Board (ERB) in Taguig rejected his application to transfer his voter registration to the 1st District. Those who opposed his transfer were an employee of the Taguig City hall and a tricycle driver.

On the show, Lino Cayetano explained that he has the right to transfer his voter registration.

“Una akong bumoto, as a 20-year-old, was in District 1. Siguro mga tatlo, apat, limang eleksyon sa District 1. I moved to District 2 sometime in 2010 and then ngayon po bumalik ako sa District 1,” he said.

He cited the case of Alan Peter and Lani Cayetano who both ran as representatives in different districts. The case was dismissed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Si Lani lumipat sa District 2. Nangyayari ho iyan,” he said.

Lino Cayetano said he is confident that he will win in the case.

“Umuupa kami sa BGC [Bonifacio Global City] pero ang tahanan ko ho ay sa Unang Distrito,” he said.

Mayor

Lino Cayetano served as mayor of Taguig for one term from 2019 to 2022.

He said when Alan Peter told him that Lani wanted to return and run for mayor, he gave way to her.

But a year later, Lino Cayetano told Alan Peter that he wanted to run again for mayor. A few weeks before the filing of the certificate of candidacy for the 2025 elections, he asked his sister, Pia, if they had already talked about it.

“Will Mayor Lani give way if I run for mayor? Ang totoo nun, Mama Ogs, ayaw nila pag-usapan,” he said.

He added, “Ang basa ko is if I run for mayor, lalabanan nila ako. And ayaw kong maglaban ang pamilya. So I decided not to run for mayor. Kasi pag tumakbo akong mayor, baka hindi umatras o magbigay daan si Mayor Lani.”

Lani Cayetano won as mayor of Taguig in the 2022 elections and is seeking reelection.

Despite that he did not get the endorsement of Mayor Lani Cayetano, Lino said he is supporting her.

Diaz noted that he is running as an independent candidate but he is not in the Lani Cayetano ticket and yet he has expressed his support to her mayoral bid.

Lino said he thought that when he decided to run for congressman instead of mayor, he would get the support of Alan Peter and Lani Cayetano but that didn’t happen.

“Kung may malalim pang rason, hindi ko alam kung ano 'yun. But when I decided to run for Congress, part of me thought na hindi nila ako lalabanan. Na i-endorse ako ng brother ko at sister-in-law ko,” he said.

He added, “I don't know why nilabanan ako nu'ng nag-step aside ako bilang mayor, I thought running as congressman would be a good alternative, na we can work together. Ibang isyu yung kung meron man kaming problema bilang magkakapatid.”

Lino Cayetano said he does not know the reason why Alan Peter and Lani Cayetano are not supporting his congressional bid.

He said he will not ask for the support of Alan Peter and Lani Cayetano in exchange for what he did for them when they asked him to run for barangay captain, congressman and mayor.

“Para sa akin, hindi isang tao ang dapat nasusunod sa Taguig. Hindi isang partido, hindi isang pamilya,” he said.

Diaz asked him if he felt sad that Alan Peter is backing Cruz as congressman.

“Hindi ko alam 'yung intention nila for not supporting me. Pero kung nakakaapekto 'yun sa pamilya namin, oo, pero hindi ko alam e,” he said.

Lino Cayetano admitted he and Alan Peter Cayetano are not talking and the last time they talked was about a year and half ago.

“Yung tampo nila sa akin baka may kinalaman sa pulitika. Baka. Again, because iba rin kami ng management style,” he said.

He added, “Politics should have nothing to do with family. Sana makita nila na serving the people of Taguig and Pateros [as congressman] is the closest thing to honoring my family. Yun yung iniwan sa amin nu'ng daddy ko, eh: a life of service."

Lino Cayetano said their mom does not meddle in politics and the only ones in the family who are supporting his congressional bid are “my wife and my kids.”

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