Duterte distances self from Sara-Alvarez squabble

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte distanced himself on Thursday from the rant of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, against Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“Puro man sila abogado, ‘di hayaan ko,” Duterte said in an ambush interview after he visited the wake of murdered overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis in Sara, Iloilo.

Duterte-Carpio on Thursday slammed Alvarez for saying that she is now part of the opposition after forming a political party separate from the administration-backed Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

READ: Alvarez denies calling Mayor Sara Duterte part of opposition

The presidential daughter also lashed out at Alvarez for claiming that he had the power to impeach Duterte.

Alvarez has denied making such statements.

Sought for comment, the President dismissed it as a mere intrigue.

“Ano lang ‘yan, ‘yung intriga. Media again,” he said.

Duterte-Carpio had earlier formed the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP, or Alliance for Change, where she teamed up with Mindanao politicians.

READ: Sara Duterte-Carpio leads news party to boost Duterte support