MANILA - Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said he is holding on to President Duterte's word that he will be House Speaker of the 18th Congress.

“Ako, I’m not concerned about any endorsements for the speakership because I’m sure kung ano napag-usapan namin ng liderato ng bansa and malinaw ang instructions sa akin na tumulong muna na maipanalo ang mga kandidato natin,” Cayetano said in an ambush interview at the Hugpong ng Pagbabago campaign rally in Pateros.

Cayetano is running for his old congressional seat in the midterm elections.

He also thanked Mayor Sara Duterte for asking PDP to include him in the shortlist of possible speakers in the next Congress.

“Nagpapasalamat naman ako sa mga Duterte, sa ating Pangulo, sa ating Mayor Sara. Alam naman nila ‘di ako magre-resign sa DFA kung walang special na ipapagawa sa akin ang ating pangulo kasi sinabi ko nga sa kaniya September 2015 na 'yung buong 6 years niya tutok ako sa kung ano kailangan niya,” he said.

A member of the Nacionalista Party, Cayetano also dismissed his exclusion from PDP’s shortlist. He said he would work on Duterte’s legislative agenda if he becomes Speaker.

"I think the heads of the different parties should come together and magkaroon ng manifesto sa mamamayan. Ano 'yung mga ipapasa natin in the next 3 years? Kasi kung hindi, panay motherhood statements," he said.

Cayetano meantime clarified that even if he shares the stage with Imee Marcos who is running for senator under HNP, his stand on the return of the Marcos wealth remains.

"Di nagbabago. Nirerespeto ko 'yung coalition pero 'yung obligasyon ng bawat kandidato ‘wag magnakaw. Isoli 'yung ninakaw. 'Di nagbabago 'yun," he said.