Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is the most qualified to continue the “legacy” of her father as president in 2022, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the presidential daughter had her father’s “intellect and political will.”
“[It’s] Sara. They have the same character. They are both competent,” Panelo told reporters.
“If there was a [Gloria Macapaga] Arroyo and [a Diosdado] Macapagal, with a President father, and there was a [Benigno] Noynoy [Aquino III] and [Corazon] Cory [Aquino], I think there’s a Sara to Duterte.”
Panelo said the possibility that Duterte-Carpio would run for the presidency in the next presidential elections depended on her and the people’s clamor.
“She gave herself a deadline for next year, right? Then, let’s wait… It still depends. The father doesn’t want [her to run], but if people want her to run, she might rise to the challenge. She has the intellectual wherewithal and the political will,” Panelo said.
Asked if he would convince the presidential daughter to run just like what he did to the patriarch, Panelo said: “She doesn’t need convincing, people will make her run, I think, just like the father.”
Panelo made the remarks a day after Vice President Leni Robredo hinted the possibility of running for the country’s top post.
For Panelo, the vice president, unlike Duterte-Carpio who would win “overwhelmingly” if the presidential elections were held today, would have “no chance” of getting the top post.
“If the elections were [held] today, she doesn’t have a chance [because of her] low ratings,” he said. “If she (Duterte-Carpio) runs now, [she will win] overwhelmingly.”
Last month, the President again reminded Sara that she wouls only “regret” running for president once his term ended in 2022.
“Inday? I told her, ‘Inday, don’t run. You will really regret it’,” the President said.
“I don’t regret it [the presidency], I’m not ready to admit that I wasted your vote. But as I’ve said, it would have been inappropriate for me to decide to run.”
Amid the persistent speculations about his daughter’s supposed plans to take the highest seat in the government by 2022, the President assured the public that he would advise Duterte-Carpio to “lay off.”
But Panelo said it would be “too early” to assume anything, noting there were “limitless possibilities” three years from now.
“If you talk of possibilities, like what I said, you have limitless possibilities. For all we know, we don’t know what will happen three years from now,” Panelo said.
