Sara as dad’s First Lady in China signals bigger role

FIRST LADY IN CHINA Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte with Salvador Panelo (left), chief presidential legal counsel, and Rep. Antonio Floirendo Jr. (center) during her father’s visit to China.

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte took on the role of First Lady to her father, President Duterte, during the President’s visit to China and may yet become Mr. Duterte’s poster girl for better relations with the Chinese government.

“She was invited” by the Chinese government to tag along her father, said Mr. Duterte upon returning from his China trip on Friday.

It was Sara’s first time to join her father on a foreign trip, fueling speculation that she would now start representing the Philippines as First Lady.

Mr. Duterte, however, said he was unsure if Sara would also tag along in his future trips like planned visits to Papua New Guinea, South Korea and Australia.

Warm ties with China

“I don’t know about other trips coming along my way during my term whether or not they would allow maybe invite my family, my friends like you,” the President said.

“I can’t answer that with certainty,” he said.

But Sara herself had established warm relationships with China, consistent with her father’s shift in foreign policy that looked up to China as savior and friend.

On March 16, Sara told reporters here that the people of Davao should expect big-ticket projects “in partnership with the Chinese government within the next three years.”

Her pronouncement came after a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua here.

“It is very exciting for the next three years because there are big projects for the city,” Sara had said.

Chinese aid

Beijing had also supported the city’s humanitarian efforts, sending aid to families of 38 victims of the NCCC Mall fire and some 31,000 flood survivors in December last year.

Chinese officials had also been coming in and out of the city during the past months to meet with Sara.

The city also has a sisterhood pact with the city of Nanjing since 2006.

In February, Sara signed a letter of intent with officials of Jinjiang City “for the establishment of a friendly relationship.”

“The city welcomes the creation of new ties with Jinjiang City, which will hopefully pave the way for an exchange in various fields mutually beneficial to both our cities,” Sara said during the visit to Davao City of Jinjiang City Deputy Mayor Li Zili. —ALLAN NAWAL