Duterte of the Philippines says his daughter will run for president in the 2022 elections
Sara Duterte-Carpio, the current mayor of Davao, the Philippines’ third-largest city, filed for re-election on Saturday.
According to ABS-CBN news, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter will run for president in next year’s election, and her father’s long-time aide, who has filed his vice presidential candidacy, will be her running mate.
She previously stated that she would not run for national office the following year.
ABS-CBN News based its report on an interview with a broadcast journalist that Duterte conducted shortly after announcing his retirement from politics while accompanying his closest ally, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who filed his vice presidential candidacy.
“So, Sara-Go, is it clear?” he was asked.
”It is Sara-Go,” Duterte responded.
When asked to confirm what the president said, Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco, Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson told Reuters: “The extent of my knowledge is also what was reported in local news.” We have nothing to say about it.”
Go did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
ABS-CBN News stated that it obtained permission from the broadcast journalist to use the video of Duterte outside a hotel in Manila where candidates were being registered, and that a transcript was also provided.
When asked when his daughter would file her presidential candidacy in the same interview, Duterte replied, “I really don’t know.” I have absolutely no idea.”
When asked if he had given his daughter permission to run for president, he replied, “Ah, no, actually we don’t talk about politics, ever since we never talk about politics. I would say that it is for the better,” Duterte was quoted as saying.
Duterte, 76, announced his retirement from politics on Saturday, fueling speculation that he was clearing the way for his daughter to run for president.
He was expected to run for the No. 2 position, a plan that most Filipinos oppose as violating the spirit of the constitution, which establishes a one-term limit for the president to prevent abuse of power.
Duterte-filing Carpio’s for mayoral re-election did little to dispel speculation that she is eyeing the presidency.
Candidates must register by Oct. 8, but withdrawals and substitutions are permitted until Nov. 15, allowing for last-minute changes of heart.
