MANILA, Philippines - After giving up on his presidential ambition, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has just publicly announced his plans in vying for vice president position in the May 2016 national elections.
Cayetano, the Senate Majority Floor Leader of the 16th Congress made the declaration earlier today, September 29, 2015 in a press conference in Davao City.
With Mar?
Aside from his declaration, Cayetano didn’t disclose any further details of his plan for 2016. Earlier reports says that his name is on the list of Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas as his potential running mate. However, Roxas seems to be more pursuant to coalesce with Congresswoman Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur.
Or with NP?
Cayetano is strongly affiliated with the Nacionalista (NP) Party of which is currently under the leadership of businessman and former senator Manuel ‘Manny’ Villar. But aside from him, another member, Senator Antonio Trillanes III has professed to media his openness to run as vice president. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos who has an alliance with the NP since running under its senatorial slate last 2009 is yet to declare his political plans although speculations are roaming around that he is also taking his political career a step higher with some proposing a ‘Binay-Marcos’, ‘Marcos-Duterte’ and ‘Duterte-Marcos’ tandem.
‘Free-zone’ in NP for Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos, Villar said
Should the three senators Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos both decides to run against each other, the NP may find itself in a dilemma on who they will support although recent statement from the party stated that should any of the three senators will seek higher office, NP might have a ‘free-zone’ according to Senator Cynthia Villar, in which their party members are free to choose their bet among the three.
‘Breaking-up’ with the administration
This decision might also affect NP’s existing alliance with Team PNoy, a coalition formed last 2013 senatorial elections in which Nacionalista Party is still in alliance with the ruling Liberal Party together with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party and the National Unity Party (NUP).
Heating up the vice presidential race
According to the latest survey conducted by BusinessWorld-Social Weather Station last September 25, 2015, Cayetano ranks 4th together with Senator Loren Legarda as the preferred vice president of the respondents with 5% mark. The survey was topped by Escudero (20%), followed by Duterte (9%), Estrada and Marcos (7%).
Cayetano’s entrance to the vice-presidential race just heated things up. Escudero has now an equally strong opponent in 2016. With both of them have nothing to lose since they will retain their senate seats if one of them loses and being known as well rehearsed in voicing their opinions straightforwardly to the public, the forthcoming debates when campaign season begins will prove to be sufficient of firepower once Cayetano will finally seal his candidacy next month. - Michael Santiago/TheSummitExpress
Cayetano, the Senate Majority Floor Leader of the 16th Congress made the declaration earlier today, September 29, 2015 in a press conference in Davao City.
With Mar?
Aside from his declaration, Cayetano didn’t disclose any further details of his plan for 2016. Earlier reports says that his name is on the list of Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas as his potential running mate. However, Roxas seems to be more pursuant to coalesce with Congresswoman Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur.
Or with NP?
Cayetano is strongly affiliated with the Nacionalista (NP) Party of which is currently under the leadership of businessman and former senator Manuel ‘Manny’ Villar. But aside from him, another member, Senator Antonio Trillanes III has professed to media his openness to run as vice president. Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos who has an alliance with the NP since running under its senatorial slate last 2009 is yet to declare his political plans although speculations are roaming around that he is also taking his political career a step higher with some proposing a ‘Binay-Marcos’, ‘Marcos-Duterte’ and ‘Duterte-Marcos’ tandem.
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| A divided house? NP might declare ‘free-zone’ for Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos’s VP bids | Photo credit: politics.com.ph |
‘Free-zone’ in NP for Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos, Villar said
Should the three senators Cayetano, Trillanes and Marcos both decides to run against each other, the NP may find itself in a dilemma on who they will support although recent statement from the party stated that should any of the three senators will seek higher office, NP might have a ‘free-zone’ according to Senator Cynthia Villar, in which their party members are free to choose their bet among the three.
‘Breaking-up’ with the administration
This decision might also affect NP’s existing alliance with Team PNoy, a coalition formed last 2013 senatorial elections in which Nacionalista Party is still in alliance with the ruling Liberal Party together with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party and the National Unity Party (NUP).
Heating up the vice presidential race
According to the latest survey conducted by BusinessWorld-Social Weather Station last September 25, 2015, Cayetano ranks 4th together with Senator Loren Legarda as the preferred vice president of the respondents with 5% mark. The survey was topped by Escudero (20%), followed by Duterte (9%), Estrada and Marcos (7%).
Cayetano’s entrance to the vice-presidential race just heated things up. Escudero has now an equally strong opponent in 2016. With both of them have nothing to lose since they will retain their senate seats if one of them loses and being known as well rehearsed in voicing their opinions straightforwardly to the public, the forthcoming debates when campaign season begins will prove to be sufficient of firepower once Cayetano will finally seal his candidacy next month. - Michael Santiago/TheSummitExpress
