Duterte says he is not aware of daughter’s political plans

Video screenshot from Banat By YouTube channel
Video screenshot from Banat By YouTube channel

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he was not aware of his daughter’s political plans for the 2022 elections, not until she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president on November 13.

"Totoo na hindi ko talaga alam. Nalaman ko nung nag-file siya. Nung nag-file siya alam ko na. Kasi 'yung panahon na naghingi siya ng COC sa dalawa: for president and vice president," Duterte said in a YouTube interview with pro-Duterte vlogger Byron Cristobal, more known as Banat By on Sunday dawn, November 14.

(It is true that I wasn’t aware. I only knew that she filed her COC that time when she asked for COC documents for president and vice president.)

He added that he has not yet spoken with his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.

“Hindi ko nga malaman kung anong nasa utak. Hindi nga kami nag-uusap, eh,” Duterte said.

(I don’t know what goes on in her mind. We don’t even talk.)

The President made the statement after the presidential daughter filed her COC for vice president under Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) on Saturday, November 13.

He said he is not toying with the media when he said he did not know that her daughter already filed her COC.

Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) announced on Saturday that it had adopted Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as its vice presidential candidate and endorsed her as the runningmate of party standard-bearer Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Disappointed?

Duterte also questioned why Duterte-Carpio only settled for vice president considering she was leading the surveys.

He speculated that Marcos had something to do with his daughter’s decision.

“I’m sure yung pagtakbo ni Sara desisyon nila Bongbong [Marcos] ‘yun (I’m sure that Sara running is the decision of Bongbong’s),” Duterte said.

“Kaya nagtataka ako, sabi ko siya ang number one sa survey, kung bakit siya pumayag na tatakbo lang bise. Siya yung mataas ang rating, eh,” he added.

(That’s why I’m wondering because she’s number one in the surveys. Why did she agree to run for vice president only? She has high ratings.)

He also expressed that he did not like his daughter’s decision.

“Baka. To ano lang, malaman ng tao na hindi ko nagustuhan yung nangyari (I may run. Just to let the people know that I didn’t like what happened),” he added.

Despite this, he does not blame his daughter.

“Hindi ko naman siya sinisisi kasi, hindi naman kami nag-uusap (I’m not blaming her because we don’t even talk),” he said.

“Yung desisyon nila ang ayaw ko na tatakbo siya (It’s their decision that she should run is what I didn’t like),” he added.

He said this prompted his long-time aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go to cry in public and consider dropping out of the vice presidential race. He, instead, pushed Go to pursue the presidency.

The President, in his previous speeches, had been opposing his daughter running for the national post to spare her from what he had experienced.

Duterte for VP?

Duterte said he will announce his political plans soon.

"In a matter of hours, you would know. I will make the announcement. Baka (Maybe)," he said.

This is in response to the statement of Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who told the media at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office on Saturday, November 14, that the President will return to Comelec on November 15 to file his candidacy.

November 15 is the last day for aspirants to apply as substitute candidates for the 2022 elections.

“On Monday, babalik si Presidente dito sa Comelec para mag-file for vice president. Abangan natin ang sunod na kabanata (the President will go back here at Comelec office to file his candidacy for vice president.),” Andanar said Saturday.

Andanar’s confirmation came after Duterte accompanied Go to the Comelec office in Manila on Saturday to withdraw the latter’s bid for vice president.

Go withdrew his vice presidential bid and filed his COC for president. He is running for president under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS).

The president had previously accepted the nomination of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for vice president.

This, however, changed during the COC filing when it was Go who filed a COC for the said position. Duterte likewise announced his decision to retire from politics.

The President had previously expressed his intention to run for the second-highest post because of his love for the country and he would like to continue his programs.

Duterte is set to step down from the Presidency in mid-2022.

Duterte tells Go to ‘run for VP’

Go filed his bid for president under PDDS in the May 2022 national elections before the Comelec on Saturday.

This happened hours after Duterte-Carpio filed her candidacy for vice president as substitute for Lakas-CMD’s Lyle Uy.

Duterte said he was the one who encouraged Go to pursue the presidency after he saw him crying in public because of the developments, including the mayor withdrawing her COC for mayor in Davao City.

“Sabi ko, ‘Bakit ka mag-iyak, karaming posisyon? Pareho lang din ng pagod ‘yan. Ayan oh, presidente. Baka pala maawa ang Diyos sa iyo. ‘Di, tumakbo ka ng presidente,'” he recalled telling Go.

(I asked him why are you crying when there are many positions available. They are all equally tiring. The presidency is there. The Lord may pity you. You should run for president)

Go was accompanied by Duterte during the filing of statements of withdrawal of candidacy and substitute of certificates of candidacy Saturday afternoon.

Go recently hinted that there may be changes regarding his political plans, citing the wishes of the President.

Meanwhile, PDP-Laban presidential bet Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa backed out of the presidential race.

Duterte revealed during the interview other presidential aspirants also sought his endorsement, namely Marcos and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The President did not elaborate his reason as he will unveil it in the coming days. He is firm in supporting only Go for the presidential race.

“Manghingi lang ako ng ilang oras lang. Malaman na nila kung sino ang umikot. Hindi ako nagpapaikot,” he said.

(I’m just asking for a few hours. The people will know who’s doing the manipulation. That’s not me.)

“I’m just asking for a few more hours at masasabi ko na kung ano ang talagang totoo. Sa kampanya sabihin ko bakit hindi ako pwedeng magsuporta kay Marcos. Ganoon din kay Pacquiao at sa iba,” he added.

(I’m just asking for a few more hours and I can tell the truth. In the campaign, I will tell you why I can’t support Marcos. The same goes for Pacquiao and the others.)

Duterte lauded Go’s “honesty.”

“Alam ko sa taon na nagserbisyo sa akin, alam ko isang ano is talagang honest. Wala ka talagang makita tsaka masilip,” the President said.

(From the many years he’s worked for me, I know that he is really honest. You can’t find any fault in him.)

He also said he was never vocal in supporting candidates other than Go.

“Ni minsan wala kayong narinig na mag-Marcos ako. Wala, wala kayong narinig,” President Duterte said.

(You never heard me say even once that I will support Marcos)

“Kailanman hindi ako nagsalita na may susuportahan ako– si Marcos o si Pacquiao. Wala ‘yan sila. Kinakausap ko lang for respeto, eh gusto akong makausap,” he added.

(I never said that I will support anyone -- neither Marcos nor Pacquiao. They’re nothing. I just talk to them out of respect and because they wanted to talk to me.)

Meanwhile, he denied that the senator is manipulating him for his gains.

“Napaka kawawa ko naman kung didiktahan lang ako ng isang... kasama ko dito sa trabaho,” he said.

(I will be very pitiful if I will let someone whom I work with dictate on me.)

He added that he is the one “dictating” Go.

“Ako ang magdikta sa kanya, hindi ako nagpapadikta. Ako siguro ang magsasabi sa kanya kung ano ang gawin mo. What’s next, ika nga,” he added.

(I will dictate him, not the other way around. Perhaps I will be the one to tell him what he should do next.)

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