Don’t run for national post with Trillanes around, Duterte tells Sara

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, wave to the reception party on their arrival at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sept. 2, 2018. (Photo by ARCEL VALDERRAMA / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to not run for national office as long as there were politicians in the opposition like Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV or those belonging to the Magdalo party-list.

“I am stating publicly now that I am discouraging my daughter to run for any national office. Maawa kasi ako. It’s an office — entitlement of ano, honor, lahat,” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s program, “Give Us This Day,” on Saturday.

“As long as we have politicians like Trillanes, itong mga Magdalo. Akala mo kung sila lang rin ang marunong. They think they are the only patriots of this country. ‘Yung mga Otso Diretso,” he added.

This was not the first time that the President discouraged his daughter from running for the presidency in 2022. He told his daughter that being the chief executive would only get her nothing but sacrifices and insults.

READ: Duterte again tells Sara: Don’t run for president

“As long as we have these politicians ‘yung mga Otso Diretso, avoid ninyo ‘yung presidency,” he said.

The Otso Diretso senatorial slate — who members failed to win in the May midterm polls — are composed of outgoing Sen. Bam Aquino, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc, Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano, former House Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, electoral lawyer Romy Macalintal and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay.

The President also said the prominence of his surname could fade in politics after three years.

“So maski gaano kami kasikat na pamilya, there will always be a time to fade. I may be the more brighter than the lights here shining as president, but I will grow dim three years from now,” he said.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)