PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte made it clear on Thursday, April 12, that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, would not succeed him when his term ends in 2022.
Speaking before his audience in Bacolod City, Duterte said his daughter has no intent to run for the highest position in the country.
The President also stressed that he would even be the one to discourage Duterte-Carpio from running in the next presidential race.
"Alam mo, 'yung anak ko, baka ma-ano kayo. I will advise her to lay off. Pero I know Inday. Hindi iyan tatakbo ng presidente (You know, my daughter, I will advise her to lay off. But I know Inday. I know she won't run for president)," Duterte said during the campaign rally of his political party.
His statement came amid speculations that his daughter is being groomed to be his successor.
There have been claims that Duterte-Carpio, who is seeking a reelection in Davao City in the May 13, 2019 elections, organized the administration-backed regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago to lay a groundwork for her potential presidential bid.
However, Duterte said his daughter, whom he dubbed as "wise," was merely "shaking the tree."
Duterte added that he would not allow her daughter to be in a difficult situation.
"Wise masyado 'yan si Inday. She just wants to shake the tree. Ganunin lang niya ba para mag-labasan 'yung -- mahulog 'yung mga hinog, 'yung hilaw mag-paiwan (Inday is very wise. She just wants to shake the tree so the ripe ones fall while the raw ones stay)," he said.
"Shaking the tree and getting rid of the dry leaves and everything. Ako, ayaw kong payagan na... Kung ako, tanungin mo, hindi ako papayag na tatakbo (Me, I won't allow her. If you ask me, I will not allow her to run)," the Chief Executive added.
In February, Duterte-Carpio said she would make a decision on a possible bid for presidency by 2021.
She, however, urged her supporters to stop calling her as the country's "next president."
Duterte, who assumed presidency in 2016, said that being the country's leader only gives him meager pay and insults and criticisms from his political opponents.
"Alam mo, sa totoo lang (You know, frankly speaking), I apologize for saying this. It does not pay well sa pagod mo and the things that you have done, and the things that you have to endure because you are there," he said.
"Maski anong klaseng insulto, anong paninira. Alam mo naman 'yan, hindi 'yan totoo (You receive insults, criticisms. But you know those are not true)," Duterte added. (SunStar Philippines)