Cayetano eyes House seat in 2019 polls

Cayetano said he came out with the decision after his “heart-to-heart” talk with the President. (PCOO)

BALI, Indonesia – Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday confirmed that he will run as congressman in his hometown in Taguig in the 2019 midterm elections.

“With all humility, I will seek another term in my hometown, the district of Taguig and Pateros, and then let’s see where it goes from there,” Cayetano said in an interview with the Philippine media covering the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering attended by President Rodrigo Duterte here.

Cayetano said he came out with the decision after his “heart-to-heart” talk with the President.

“We both agreed that a role in Congress and a leadership position in Congress would be good in terms of pushing that vision,” he said, referring to Duterte’s goal of giving every Filipino people a safe and comfortable life.

He admitted he might seek the House speakership currently being occupied by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is serving her last term as representative of the second district of Pampanga.

“I will seek the leadership position in the House but it’s a complex matter. You have to win first in your district, and I want to focus on that first, and then you have to win the trust and confidence of the whole Congress,” Cayetano said.

“This won’t be a simple entering Congress and wanting to be Speaker or wanting a new leadership, it’s how you want to pursue this vision in the next three years,” he added.

Cayetano refused to name his successor in the DFA, asking the media to wait for the President’s announcement.

“I think the President will be the one to announce, but we’ve spoken to him and we’ll be briefing him next week,” Cayetano said.

“I have full confidence that my successor will be more than capable, he might even do a better job,” he added.

Cayetano’s sister, former Senator Pia Cayetano, is the incumbent congresswoman of the lone district of Taguig. She is reportedly seeking a comeback in the Senate.

The country’s top diplomat was a former vice mayor and congressman of Taguig. He ran and won in the senatorial race in 2013.

In 2016, Cayetano ran as Duterte’s vice presidential bet but lost to Vice President Leni Robredo.