MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he will not allow his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to run for president.
In his speech during PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Duterte noted that he is convinced that his daughter will not run for the highest government position in the country.
“‘Yang anak ko I will advise her to lay off. Pero if I know Inday hindi yan tatakbo ng presidente. Wise masayado ‘yan si Inday (I know she will not run for president. She is wise),” Duterte said.
“She’s just trying to shake the tree. Shaking the tree and getting rid of the dry leaves and everything. Ako ayaw kong…kung ako ang tanungin mo hindi ako papayag na tatakbo (If you ask me, I do not like her to run for president),” he added.
The presidential daughter, who has been actively campaigning for senatorial candidates supportive of his father’s administration, has repeatedly denied that she is eyeing the presidency.
She also explained that she is only helping her father get through his remaining three years as President.
However, she also said previously that she will decide on a possible bid for presidency by 2021.
“‘Yung pagtakbo kasi ng presidente hindi ‘yan overnight na decision (Running for president is not an overnight decision),” Duterte-Carpio said.
“It needs money, machinery at pinaka importante sa lahat yung wisdom at guidance ng Panginoon. Siguro gawa nalang tayo ng deadline, January of 2021 (most importantly, it needs wisdom and guidance from the Lord. Maybe we should set a deadline, January 2021),” she added.
READ: Sara Duterte to decide on presidential bid by 2021