Duterte: Sara wants to focus on family first

Despite the clamor, President Duterte said his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio wants to focus on raising a family first rather than lead the country, saying another Duterte will go to Malacañang if it is really God's will.

President Duterte made the statement following the calls for his daughter to run for president in next year's elections as his term ends.

In a press conference in Pasay City, Duterte said that his daughter does not really want to run for president.

"Si Sara ayaw because may anak kasi iyang tatlo — maliliit pa, eh (Sara does not want to become president because her three kids are still very little)," he said Sunday evening, Feb. 28.

"Gusto niya na mag-focus muna siya sa family ano ng — mga affairs (She wants to focus on her family affairs first)," he added.

However, President Duterte said that for Mayor Duterte-Carpio, she will become president like him if that is what God really wanted.

"Ang sabi niya (She told me): 'Kung gusto ng Diyos maging presidente rin ako kagaya sa iyo, magiging presidente ako. Hindi kailangan ngayon (If God wants me to become president like you, I will. It doesn't have to happen now),'" he said.

"'If God does not want me to be president, I will not have that chance no more,'" he recalled his daughter saying.

The President added that DuterteCarpio was also thinking about the many things she cannot do after her term ends if she ends up running in the elections and winning the presidency.

"After six years, bata pa siya, anong gawin niya (she's still young then, what will she do after)?" Duterte said.

"As an ex-president, hindi siya makatrabaho, hindi siya maka-appear ng korte. Eh presidente ka na eh (she cannot work, she cannot appear in court because she had already become a president then)," he added.

President Duterte has repeatedly said that he does not want Inday Sara to run for president because of the disrespect and rude comments she may get if she wins. He also said in a speech in January that the presidency is not a job for a woman.