PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 18, stressed that he is against political dynasties, but he was "forced" to let his three children seek elective posts in their hometown in Davao City due to public clamor.
In a speech delivered in Manila Hotel, the President said that as a former mayor of Davao City, he could not allow his hometown to "go back in shambles."
He also emphasized that he could not turn down the desire of his fellow DavaeoƱos for his family to serve Davao City.
"So ayaw ko ng dynasty (I don't like political dynasty), but we are forced," Duterte said.
"At saka mag-tanong ka, you conduct a survey, itong mga interesado na dynasty, dynasty, ade pumunta na kayo sa tao. Tanungin mo yung tao... Eh, hindi na magkakampanya iyan kung ayaw nila... Usually, kapag naumpisahan ng isa, tuluy-tuloy na iyan kasi hingin ng mga tao. That's politics," he added.
(You ask, you conduct a survey, those who are interested in political dynasties. Go ask the public. Ask the public... They will not campaign for you if they do not like you... Usually, if your family is into political dynasty, it will continue because people will ask for it. That's politics.)
Duterte's three children from ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman filed their certificates of candidacy for national and local positions in the 2019 mid-term elections.
On October 12, the President's eldest son Paolo "Pulong" filed his bid for Davao City 1st District congressional seat.
The President's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio is seeking re-election as Davao City mayor while youngest son Sebastian "Baste" wants to be vice mayor.
The President urged Filipino voters to choose their candidates "wisely" in the upcoming 2019 polls.
The 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties but has yet to be fully be implemented through an enabling law.
An anti-dynasty provision is being pushed under the Constitutional Commission's proposed federal form of government.
The draft charter of the House of Representatives, on the other hand, lacks reforms on anti-political dynasty, anti-party switching, and term limits. (SunStar Philippines)