Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has ruled out the possibility of running alongside her father even as she admitted she’s now considering a presidential bid in 2022.
In an interview with ABS-CBN reporter RG Cruz, Sara said she’s thinking about running for president due to the clamor for her to do so.
“Pinag-iisipan kasi a lot of people are asking me to reconsider my decision not to run for president and a lot of people are demanding to talk to me about it,” she said.
Asked about a possible Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022, Sara said: “It will never happen na merong Duterte-Duterte. Sinabi naman na ni PRRD kung ano yung mga reasons niya kung bakit ayaw niya akong tumakbo for president.”
Sara previously said she has no interest in running for president next year, adding that she will consider the post only in 2034.
“I understand where they are coming from, I too am anxious where we are going as a nation. I am always grateful that I have their trust and confidence. I am pleading to them to please allow me to run for President on 2034, if at that time there is something I can do to help the country. Thank you,” she said in a statement last January.
The presidential daughter has been leading in voter preference surveys of potential presidential candidates.
Duterte, however, has repeatedly discouraged Sara from running for president because of the demands of the job.
In a January 14 speech, he said the presidency isn’t a job for women.
“Hindi ito pambabae. Alam mo, the emotional set-up of a woman and a man is totally different. Maging gago ka dito. That is the sad story,” Duterte said.
Groups have been formed to convince Sara to run for president. Some supporters are also pushing for a Duterte-Duterte tandem, reminiscent of the father and daughter team which led Davao since 2007.
Members of the ruling PDP-Laban party recently adopted a resolution urging Duterte to run for vice president, and for him to choose his running mate.
