Duterte says daughter Sara not running for senator

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio is not running for any national post in the upcoming elections, President Duterte said yesterday.

“Hindi ‘yan magtakbo ng senador. Hindi ‘yan magtakbo ng presidente. Maniwala kayo sa akin. She’s too wise for that,” the President said during a press conference in Davao City after his arrival from Indonesia.

The President’s daughter has said she was planning to seek reelection as Davao City mayor in the 2019 elections.

Her decision comes even after she ranked high in recent surveys of potential senatorial contenders next year. She recently created a regional party called Hugpong ng Pagbabago that have recently allied with other political groups.

The President said he was still unaware about the political plans of his son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte. He added that he expects to talk to Paolo on the matter.

“I don’t know. Frankly, I have not talked to my son for the longest time, simula nag, well, he has his own family. Maybe he finds few opportunities for me to talk to him,” he said.

“I expect him as a son to come to me and say, ‘Pa, gusto kong doon na tatakbo.’ Kasi alam mo anak ko eh,” he said.

Hours later, Paolo filed his Certificate of Candidacy for congressman of the first district of Davao City.