All of President Rodrigo Duterte’s children, except his youngest daughter, will seek elective posts in next year’s midterm polls.
Duterte’s youngest son, Sebastian, on Wednesday, filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor, marking his first time to enter politics.
He will serve as the running mate of her elder sister, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who declined offers for her to run for senator and will instead seek reelection after establishing the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago earlier this year.
The President’s eldest son, former vice mayor Paolo Duterte, will run as the city’s First District representative.
Duterte-Carpio, for her part, shrugged off criticisms that her family is building a political dynasty.
“We really cannot deny that, especially if our detractors and those in the opposition will make such claims. I don’t want to engage them. This is not something that is happening exclusively to Davao. When you are a family of doctors and your children become doctors, too—it’s the same thing,” she said.
