Beware of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for she can oust even a House Speaker, President Rodrigo Duterte told his political opponents on Thursday.
“Be careful with that woman. She can even oust the Speaker. She operated in Davao. Tingnan mo ang nangyari sa Congress, natanggal si…(Look at what happened in Congress, someone was ousted),” Duterte said in his speech before the 44th Philippine Business Conference and Expo.
Duterte seemed to have confirmed his daughter’s role in the ouster of his closest ally at the House of Representatives, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
Alvarez was booted out of the House speakership before Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
READ: Solons say Sara Duterte played key role in Alvarez ouster
Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced him as Speaker.
The President said Sara apparently took offense with one of Alvarez’s alleged statement that he, as leader of the lower chamber, can impeach Duterte.
“Pero siguro in… ‘Oh, I can also impeach him,’ referring to me. Para sa atin wala ‘yan. Bale wala ‘yan, politiko (For me, it’s nothing. It’s politics),” Duterte said.
“You banter around but you know, siguro, anak… Nung narinig iyan nag— siguro sabi niya, ‘Bakit mo ganunin tatay ko,'” he added.
(You banter around, but you know, she’s my daughter. Maybe when she heard that remark she thought ‘why are you doing that to my father?)
Duterte went on to say that he learned of Sara’s role in Alvarez’s ouster through Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
“Nagkita sila sa washroom. ‘Tell my father, I’m sorry.’ Hindi ko alam i’ll implikasyon. Si Inday, ‘yun, minaneuver niya (I didn’t know the implication. It’s Inday…she maneuvered it),” Duterte said.
In February, the Davao City mayor lambasted Alvarez for calling her part of the opposition and for allegedly saying that he can unseat Duterte.
Alvarez had denied issuing such remarks. /ee
READ: Speaker on feud with Sara: I surrender