President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night that his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will not run for a national post in the 2019 midterm polls.
The President made the remark as he expressed support for a bill prohibiting the establishment of political dynasties.
“By the way, I am in favor of putting up an [anti-]dynasty law,” Duterte said in a speech during the joint celebration of the 68th anniversary of the National Security Council and the 69th anniversary of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in Pasay City.
“I’m okay with it, there is no problem. My daughter, Inday, I can tell you I know her. She won’t run for [a] national [post].”
According to Pulse Asia’s survey released last July 9, the President’s daughter, who leads a regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, would likely place third to fifth if the senatorial elections were held at the time the survey was conducted.
Duterte-Carpio has received a 46.2 percent voter preference from 1,800 registered voters nationwide.
The midterm elections will be held in May 2019, with 12 senators to be elected.
On Wednesday, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the plot to unseat Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez was hatched in March, a month after he ran afoul of the President’s daughter, Duterte-Carpio.
Fariñas said he was asked by some disgruntled forces to sever his ties with Alvarez on the promise that he would maintain his post as majority leader, but he declined the offer.
“I said no. I’m sorry, I am a loyal person,” said Fariñas, who was replaced by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. as majority leader.
He also said that when he told the President about the plot, he was surprised.
“The President asked why,” he said.
In February, Alvarez angered Duterte-Carpio by suggesting she was part of the opposition when she established a regional party—a statement Alvarez denied.
Fariñas said he has proved his loyalty to Alvarez when he opted to stay with him, together with 12 other congressmen.
Alvarez’s group, composed of 14 lawmakers, including Fariñas, have signed up to be part of the House minority bloc led by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, but another bloc led by the Liberal Party seeks to dislodge them as the new minority bloc.
Also on Wednesday, former President Benigno Aquino III told ABS-CBN he would not run for senator in 2019 and would rather help campaign for candidates who share his beliefs.
“I think I still have a lot of supporters and I would likely win but if I win and I’m alone, what would I do? It seems that I need to be present every day if I am the sole opposition,” he said in Filipino.
“If we can help elect more officials who share our same views in Congress, if we can elect more officials who prioritize gratitude to their constituents then maybe it would be more meaningful,” he added.