Duterte tells daughter Sara not to run, says being president not a woman's job
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he again cautioned his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio not to follow in his footsteps, noting this time that being a president is not a woman's job.
"My daughter inuudyok naman nila, sabi ko, 'My daughter is not running' (They are pushing my daughter, but I said, 'My daughter is not running'). I told Inday not to run kasi naawa ako sa dadaanan niya na dinaanan ko (I told Inday not to run because I feel bad for her that she would have the same experience that I had). Hindi ito pambabae (This is not meant for women)," Duterte said following calls for his daughter to succeed him in 2022.
Duterte made the statement while expressing his frustration over corruption in the government.
"The emotional setup of a woman and a man is totally different. Maging g*go ka dito (You will be foolish here). That's the sad story," he added.
The presidential daughter recently topped a survey for possible presidential bets in 2022. However, Duterte-Carpio herself said in an interview that she would want to have her name removed from similar surveys in the future.
Duterte also said during the event that he is hoping his successor would be "forceful and resolute" to address corruption in the government.
In 2019, Duterte said he regretted running for the highest position in the country due to the problems he was facing.
This is not the first time Duterte discouraged his daughter from gunning for the presidency. He told Sara last year that she should let go any plans of running unless she believes she can improve everyone's lives. Duterte also said back then that her daughter won't get rich from being president.
Meanwhile, Institute for Political and Electoral Reform executive director and political analyst Ramon Casiple said that Duterte’s statement could be a way to put the spotlight on his daughter.
“Basically, ang epekto ng ganyang klaseng balita ay nailagay siya sa sentro ng atensyon. Kaya hindi ako magugulat kung sa susunod na panahon na ito ay pabalik-balik sa media si Sara Duterte. Hindi ko pa sinasara ang usapin na posible siyang tumakbo,” said Casiple in an online forum.
[Translation: Basically, the effect of this kind of news is that she is being the center of attention. So I will not be surprised we will hear again Sara Duterte in media. I’m not closing the chance that she might run.]
The Philippines only had two female presidents in history: Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
CNN Philippines' correspondent Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report
