PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte told his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, not to "commit the mistake of running for presidency."
"Si Inday [Sara], kinausap ko talaga kagabi (I personally talked to Sara last night [June 8]), 'Do not run. Do not ever, ever commit the mistake of running for presidency'," Duterte said on Tuesday evening, June 8, in an interview with Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy aired on SMNI Channel.
The President said he personally talked to his daughter after returning to Davao City on Monday, June 7.
Duterte emphasized that criticisms will always be thrown at Sara if she takes the seat, and he does not want his daughter to experience this.
"Wala ka talagang makuha sa... Pwera insulto na lang sa ating bayan. Wala ka talang makuha diyan sa presidente, pagod lang (You won't be getting anything but insult from your fellow countrymen. You won't be benefiting from the presidency but stress)," he said.
"You do not deserve it. Anak kita, maawa ako sayo at alam ko naman hindi ka magpunta ng kalokohan. Sabihin ko sayo ngayon, huwag kang tumakbo. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanya iyon (You are my daughter; I will feel bad for you because I know you will not do anything bad. I'm telling you now, don't run. I really told her that)," he said.
Duterte had been vocally against his daughter running for the presidency.
Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, has been mum on her plans for the 2022 election.
This, despite the recent statement of Albay Representative Joey Salceda that Sara will run for the presidency based on the exchange of messages between the two of them.
Speculations also fueled when former Defense secretary and former presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro visited Davao City on June 3 and had met with Duterte-Carpio.
Teodoro's trip speculated that he and the mayor might be running mates in the 2022 elections.
Duterte-Carpio also declined to comment on the recent meet-up.
Duterte's successor
With less than a year before he ends his term, Duterte was asked by Quiboloy, his long-time friend, if he sees anyone worthy to be his successor.
But President said, "Wala, wala akong nakita na ano (I can't see anyone who is), deserving."
Duterte said there are aspirants who can continue his legacy when his term ends in 2022, but he believes they have to do more to become president. He said he prefers to stay neutral for now.
He added he may publicly name his choice "when the time comes."
Duterte also thumbed down the idea of running for vice-president, despite calls for the "Duterte-Duterte" tandem in which he will run as vice president to his daughter.
The President said he is "ready for retirement" and plans to spend his retirement in Davao City, where he served as mayor for 22 years.
"Uwi ako sa Davao [City], mag-retire (I will go back to Davao, and retire)," Duterte said.
PDP-Laban, the President's party, passed a resolution on May 31, urging the 76-year-old President to seek the vice presidency and choose the ruling party's standard bearer next year.
"Mahirap yan Pastor kasi mag-retire na ako and this time, ako ang mamili ng presidente, tapos 'pag manalo sabihin nila, ano lang yan, perpetuate yourself in power. So nagreresist ako (It's a difficult situation Pastor because I will be retiring, and I will be the one to choose the candidate for president. If we win, they will just say it's to perpetuate myself in power. So, I am resisting)," Duterte said.
