Duterte’s poll victory leaves daughter Sara with mixed feelings

Update

“I AM afraid for him.”

So said Davao City mayor-elect Inday Sara Duterte, referring to his father presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“Well, for me, I am happy for him for sa bagong challenge na ito and bagong responsibility. A bigger challenge, a bigger responsibility. Pero okay lang dahil lahat naman yan para sa bansa natin,” she said in an interview with GMA 7’s State of the Nation on Monday night.

At first, Sara said she had doubts that her father could win the presidential election. But during the campaign period, she saw the overwhelming support of Filipinos for her father and this changed her mind.

“Hindi ko talaga in-expect na mananalo siya. Pero nung makita ko sa surveys na tumataas na siya at tsaka nakita ko reaction ng mga tao nung nangangampanya, napaisip na ako na talaga na baka maging president nga siya,” she said.

Though she admitted that her family was used to being exposed to public scrutiny, she said the national attention they would be getting soon would be different.

“Di kami sanay na buong bansa na ganun. So ano lang adjustment lang siguro,” she said.

“Kaya nga ayaw ko nga din talaga siya na tumakbo at maging president kasi ayaw ko yung lahat nakatutok sa kanya. Ayoko ko yung burden ng trabaho sa kanya. But kami nandito nalang kami to support him kasi nandiyan na,” she said.

Now that her father would soon be leading more than 100 million Filipinos, Sara said: “What I really feel is I am afraid for him.”

When asked if she would accept her father’s offer to become his first lady, Sara maintained that her priority is to lead and govern Davao City as mayor.

“Priority ko kasi yung position ko dito sa Davao City as mayor. Kung hindi naman kasi talaga ako tumakbo as mayor, pwede ako mag full-time dun,” she said.

But she said she will be ready to offer any help for the success of  his father’s administration.

“Kung ano yung kailangan nila na tulong ready ako. Kung tawagin nila ako to do something, ready ako,” she said.