Several days ago, it seemed certain that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was going to join the presidential race, and that he will run with senator and vice presidential aspirant Alan Peter Cayetano. Supporters of the controversial Duterte were expecting him to show up at the head office of the Commission on Elections in Intramuros. Alas, the certainty was replaced with disappointment when Duterte proved to be a no-show. Pressed for an explanation, Duterte informed the news media that he was leaving to Divine Providence the final decision on whether or not he will throw his hat in the presidential derby. No elaborations were made.
Duterte’s non-appearance at the Comelec head office may have disappointed many, but Cayetano is far from discouraged. Last Oct. 16, a virtually unknown former barangay official filed his certificate of candidacy for president under the the PDP-Laban, the same political party Duterte has identified himself with for the May 2016 national and local elections. Observers believe that since the ex-barangay official does not have the indications of a serious and viable candidate for president, the PDP-Laban expects him to eventually give way to Duterte as the party standard bearer. Under the law, the party has until Dec.10 to substitute their current standard bearer with Duterte. Since Duterte consistently refuses to categorically rule himself out as a presidential contender, the suspected last-minute Duterte candidacy for president is a strong possibility.
If Duterte is seriously considering running for president by December, analysts opine that his procrastination may undermine his political campaign. From now until December 2015, Duterte’s potential supporters as of October 2015, disappointed at the news of Duterte’s apparent disinterest in the presidency, may commit themselves to supporting other presidential candidates. Should that happen, Duterte cannot expect these supporters to shift their allegiance anew and return to the Duterte camp.
The proscrastination, of course, has its upside. At least, from now until December 2015, Duterte will be spared the same public scrutiny his challengers are already subjected to in the news media, and in on-line sites.
Despite his equivocal public statements, Duterte has been repeatedly predicting that Cayetano will be the sure winner in the vice presidential race. In turn, Cayetano has returned the kind words from the mayor with the accolade that Duterte will be the best president the country will ever have, or will never have. This mutual exchange of praises between Duterte and Cayetano also fuels speculations that their belated political alliance will be announced soon. Political analysts will be interested to know that according to the grapevine, Duterte invited Cayetano to visit Davao City this weekend.
As discussed in an earlier essay, a Duterte-Cayetano tandem may be a force to reckon with, considering the reputation of Duterte for instant justice, and Cayetano’s anti-corruption record in the Senate. The entry of this anticipated tandem in the campaign trail will also trigger interesting, if not fiery presidential and vice presidential debates.
Undoubtedly, Duterte’s participation in the presidential polls as Cayetano’s running mate will be welcome news for the Cayetano camp. Duterte’s votes are expected to include Cayetano, and since Duterte promises to be quite a political showcase, Cayetano will not find it too difficult to attract a following in their provincial sorties. It’s also too lonely for Cayetano to campaign without a presidential running mate.
While Cayetano has much to gain in the event that Duterte does run as his presidential contender, Cayetano’s supporters assert that the senator is a feasible candidate in his own right. They underscore Cayetano’s unrelenting campaign against corruption, as seen in the investigations Cayetano has continuously pursued against powerful officials and influential establishments long before the election season started. Indeed, nobody can argue against the observation that Cayetano is a hard-working senator, considering that many of his non-performing colleagues seem oblivious to their duties as lawmakers in the first place.
Also, Cayetano got elected to the Senate on the basis of his record as an uncompromising political opposition leader in the House of Representatives. This can hardly be said of some of Cayetano’s fellow senators, particularly the film and television personalities who simply exploited their mass appeal to catapult them to high public office, and the president’s relative who obviously used family ties (and even tried to look like his famous uncle) for the same self-serving purpose. Unlike Cayetano, these opportunists in the Senate have nothing to be proud of in terms of accomplishments as legislators.
The Cayetano camp is particularly emphatic about how their bet for the vice presidency won his way to the Senate through his past work in the House. Again, this cannot be said of some of Cayetano’s colleagues who never had any prior experience as a legislator.
Cayetano’s supporters also stress that their candidate is not involved in any corruption, scandal or irregularity since he became a member of Congress. For them, one who cannot be corrupted after so many years in high public office cannot be corrupted when he holds even higher public office. A record of public service unblemished by any graft case is, by itself, and correctly emphasized by Cayetano’s camp, is an achievement worthy of emulation.
Cayetano’s camp argues that the senator, a relatively young man in a field often associated with senior or near-senior citizens, is one of a few veteran legislators who can understand and identify with the Filipino youth.
Cayetano does not appear to be beholden to vested interested groups. This cannot be said of another candidate for vice president whose list of wedding sponsors includes the names of owners of big business interests which are subject to strict Philippine government regulation.
Likewise, it appears that Cayetano never abused the perks and privileges of his office. The absence of any news to the contrary ought to attest to that. It is also nice to know that Cayetano never exceeded the number of consultants he is allowed to hire to assist him in his legislative work.