When Alan Peter Cayetano ran as vice president in the 2016 elections, his selection was the personal choice of no less than President Duterte.
In effect, Mr. Duterte, by picking him as his running mate, publicly assured Filipino voters of Cayetano’s competence to assume the presidency in case something happened to the chief executive that would necessitate succession.
However, it is hard to fathom that Cayetano was not even mentioned recently by Mr. Duterte as among the competent successors he said should succeed him in case he decided to resign.
As President Duterte’s personal choice to be his running mate, it is more than an insult for Cayetano not to be included among such possible successors. Cayetano should take offense for being relegated to “saling pusa” stature.
It shows the President’s sheer contempt for Cayetano’s competence or lack of it. He should leave the Cabinet.
BENJIE GUERRERO, attybenjie@gmail.com