Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said he would help President-elect Rodrigo Duterte build a “strong majority” in the Senate so he could achieve his legislative agenda.
Cayetano said he had heard the promises made by Duterte. He also got to know well the changes he wanted for the country—“Build a strong majority.”
Cayetano, the running mate of Duterte, was offered the job of a secretary of either the Department of Justice or the Department of Foreign Affairs.
There were also reports that Duterte wanted his defeated running mate to be the Senate president.
Asked whether he was interested in the Senate presidency, Cayetano said he wanted to focus more on building a strong majority that will help Duterte realize his plans of creating real changes in the country.
While Duterte has not publicly announced whom he would endorse for the Senate leadership, he said the President-elect has made it clear in private discussions who he wanted for the post.
“The president will not have an official candidate, but he favors somebody. President Duterte is not declaring public support because he respects the independence of the Senate,” he said.
Cayetano said their focus right now is on creating a strong majority that can deliver the culture of effectiveness and efficiency.
“With the enormous legislative agenda of President Duterte, he will need a majority of 15-18, [in the Senate]” he added.
Cayetano said that he is not inclined to help in building a majority if the discussions will be limited to who will head the chamber’s respective committees.
“We should go beyond the committees and positions and discuss the important measures that should be passed by the Senate under President-elect Duterte,” he said.
“Even if they say that I’m the Senate President, I will not get the post if they will not make a commitment to the legislative agenda of President Duterte), Cayetano said.
Among the key measures that Cayetano intends to push in the next Congress are the implementation of a nationwide curfew for minors and liquor ban, increasing the salaries of police officers, improving internet connectivity, and phasing out labor contractualization.
