‘Meeting with Duterte like pamanhikan’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano likened his meeting with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday night at a local native chicken restaurant here to his “pamanhikan” to his wife, Laarni, back in 2004.

The pamanhikan is a tradition wherein the groom and his family visit the bride’s family to ask for her hand in marriage.

The senator was joined by his wife, who is now Taguig City mayor, and siblings Senator Pia and Ren when he met with Duterte over a meal of native chicken and grilled tuna capped with servings of durian and pomelo at Conching’s Restaurant here.

But Duterte had other things in mind and called the dinner as more of a “social event” with the Cayetanos, whom he said are his long-time friends.

The dinner was preceded by a basketball game wherein the senator and his brother Ren played with the mayor’s trusted aide Christopher Go.

Duterte was apparently still unmoved by Cayetano’s announcement of his vice presidential bid here in Davao City, which many thought was a signal of a possible Duterte-Cayetano tandem. 

He, however, said one thing is certain: that he would support the political plan of the Cayetanos, including the senator’s vice presidential bid.

Duterte’s supporters

Cayetano said their family should be counted as among those who are urging Duterte to run for president. 

Cayetano, who announced his bid for the vice presidency in the 2016 elections during a press conference here on Tuesday morning, said he waited for the right time to marry the right girl.

He said it’s going to be the same this time, as he would wait for Duterte to choose him as his running mate should the mayor eventually decide to run for president.

Cayetano, however, pointed out that he would still push through with his plan whether or not he would be chosen by Duterte as his running mate.

Cayetano said he is seeking the vice presidency on his own as he also waits for the decision of the Nacionalista Party – to which he belongs – on who it will support. 

“I am praying for a president who will make us all proud and bring true change to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Cayetano said.

He said it would be a big loss to the country if Duterte will not run for president.

His sister Pia, meanwhile, said Duterte would make an amazing president because he has a clear platform of government anchored on peace and order and economic development. – With Christina Mendez