Sara Duterte pregnant with triplets

Screen grab from Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Facebook page

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte on Friday said she was seven weeks pregnant and her family was expecting triplets.

In a statement read by city information officer Jefry Tupas, Duterte said her pregnancy was “delicate,” which was why she was rarely seen in public these days.

“[T]hey are doing well on their 7th week … I am having a hard time with the symptoms as well as the complications of a multifetal pregnancy,” her statement reads.

Duterte said despite her pregnancy, she would continue to work and perform her functions as city mayor.

But she apologized if she would not be often seen in crowded places as her doctor advised her “to lessen the chances of acquiring infections.”

Duterte is married to lawyer Manases Carpio and this is her second pregnancy.

Tupas said Duterte’s pregnancy was the result of an in vitro fertilization procedure performed here.

Duterte, he said, had difficulty getting pregnant like most women do, which was why the couple resorted to IVF.

The mayor’s son, Sting, was also a product of IVF, he said.

“So I’m sure this is also a product of IVF,” Tupas added.

In a statement, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Duterte was delighted at the news of his daughter’s pregnancy.

“He is also hopeful that she will able to see through the pregnancy smoothly and well,” Andanar said, adding that her pregnancy serves as the President’s source of inspiration “to roll up his sleeves and work double time in his fight against crimes and drugs.”

“He hopes to leave a legacy of a Philippines safe and secure from crimes and drugs to future generation of Filipinos,” Andanar said.

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the mayor and husband,” he added. RAM/rga

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