MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is sulky because his “favorite” daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, did not consult him about her 2022 political plans, according to his official mouthpiece, but they are still on good terms.
In a Palace briefing on Monday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said: “Wala namang problema sa samahan siguro ng mag-ama. Ang sinabi ni Presidente, hindi nagkonsulta si Mayor Sara sa kanyang political plans.”
(There is no problem between the father and daughter. The President said Mayor Sara did not consult him on her political plans in 2022.)
“Medyo syempre nagtatampo dahil hindi siya nakonsulta pero alam ninyo, si Mayor Sara, paboritong- paboritong anak ‘yan ng Presidente,” he added.
(He is, of course, sulky because he was not consulted but you know, Mayor Sara is his favorite child.)
He said the Duterte family is just like any other family with occasional disputes but remains to be a loving family.
“Minsan may tampuhan pero walang kaduda-dudang nagmamahalan ang mag-ama,” Roque said.
(Sometimes there’s a misunderstanding, but there’s no doubt about the father and daughter still loving each other.)
Over the weekend, Duterte-Carpio, who topped several surveys on preferred 2022 presidential bets, filed her certificate of candidacy for vice president and was almost immediately declared as the running mate of the former dictator’s son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., after being adopted by his political party. Duterte-Carpio is aspiring for the vice presidency under the Lakas-CMD.
President Duterte had admitted that he “did not like” his daughter’s decision to run as vice president since she is faring well in surveys.
READ: Duterte baffled by Sara’s decision to run for VP
He said he may run against Duterte-Carpio to show his dismay over his daughter’s decision.
The President is expected to go to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday to file his certificate of candidacy (COC). But it remains uncertain if he would be filing a COC to run for vice president and compete against his daughter, or for senator as being pushed by his party PDP-Laban.
Although a few months ago, PDP-Laban initially considered Duterte as its vice-presidential candidate.
READ: Duterte officially accepts PDP-Laban nomination to run for VP in 2022 polls
READ: It’s definite: Duterte to run for VP post; Go declines