By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
 |
| PHOTO: ABS-CBN News |
Ousted House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, one of the
possible contenders for the presidential race in the 2022 national elections,
suggested on Friday that it would be better if presidential bets will focus on
addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hindi mo mapipigilan na may mga survey, may mga nag-uusap
na ng 2022, but I think the best thing to do is anyone na may balak na tumakbo
sa 2022 ay tumulong na lang muna sa pandemic na ‘to,” Cayetano said when asked
for his thoughts on a survey of possible presidentiables and vice
presidentiables.
“Sobrang nating problema sa’ting bansa and the single
biggest challenge ng administrasyon na ‘to at ng mga administrasyon around the
world is ‘yung paga-administer ng vaccine effectively,” the lawmaker said.
The Taguig-Pateros representative said that the public
should not be distracted from pertinent issues such as the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Hindi pwedeng ma-distract sa main issue talaga ng pagbili
ng tamang bakuna at pag-roll out ng plano na masasabayan natin ang ating mga
neighbors,” Cayetano said.
“Hinding hindi pwede ‘yung sinasabing plano na three to five
years tayo when all our other neighbors, hindi lang sa Southeast Asia kundi sa
buong Asya at sa buong mundo, ay nagpa-plano na dalawang taon lang tapos na
‘yung programa ng pagbabakuna,” he added.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte topped the recent Pulse Asia's
survey of possible contenders for president in the 2022 national elections with
26 percent from the 2,400 respondents.
She was followed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong”
Marcos and Senator Grace Poe who both received the support of 14% of
respondents.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso got 12% while
Senator Manny Pacquiao got 10%.
The Taguig-Pateros Representative was also on the list at
the seventh spot with three percent, and also emerged as one of the preferred
Senate bets with 46 percent.
Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Panfilo Lacson were just
a notch above him with four percent.
Vice President Leni Robredo, the only bet from the
opposition on the list, ranked fifth with eight percent.
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