鈥淚 shouldn鈥檛 even run if I cannot.鈥�
This was how vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano defended himself from observations that he could not campaign without using the name of his running mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
During the live INQ&A of 黑料社 on Monday, a netizen asked Cayetano if he could campaign without using the name of Duterte.
鈥淪o, can I campaign on my own merits? I shouldn鈥檛 even run if I cannot,鈥� the senator said.
READ: Cayetano: You may forget about me but vote for Duterte
He urged the public to look at his track record as a lawmaker, which he said would show that he鈥檚 capable to run for the second highest elected post in the country.
鈥淚 have my own public record,鈥� he said, citing his career as a councilor, a representative and eventually as a senator.
But why is the senator always mentioning Duterte in his speeches?
READ: Duterte: Cayetano has to work harder
鈥淲e鈥檙e the only group that really believes in each other,鈥� he said, adding聽 his rivals rarely or did not even mention their running mates during the vice presidential debate.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 hear Chiz talk much about Grace; I didn鈥檛 hear Leni talk about Mar, mentioning once or twice, but my question is, why don鈥檛 they talk much more about their running mates?鈥� he said.
During the debate, Cayetano reiterated his and Duterte鈥檚 plan to bust crime and illegal drugs within the first six months if elected into office.
The senator also pushed for federalism to empower local governments and as a solution to the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.
Even if the Philippines has a good vice president, Cayetano said it would be hard for the country to solve its problems if it has a 鈥渓ousy president.鈥�
鈥淵ou can have the best vice-president kung lousy and president mo, you can鈥檛 have anything done,鈥� he said. IDL