Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte wished Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio good health and success in her role as the second-highest official of the land, the Palace said.
President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also on Tuesday called Duterte-Carpio his “BFF,” or “Best Friend Forever” and greeted her a “happy birthday” in a Facebook post.
Duterte-Carpio celebrated her 44th birthday on Tuesday. Her friends and allies have sent her birthday greetings, including her running mate in the 2022 national elections, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Duterte conveyed his message to his daughter during the Cabinet’s last meeting and thanksgiving last Monday night, according to Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar.
Duterte-Carpio is set to take her oath of office as the 15th vice-president of the Philippines on June 19. But her six-year term of office will only start on June 30. Inday Sara, a lawyer, is the first female mayor and the youngest to have been elected as Vice President of the country.
President Duterte had endorsed his daughter’s vice-presidential run but was not able to attend her proclamation in the Batasang Pambansa Complex last May 25.
In his previous speeches, Duterte said Sara, given her qualities and leadership style, would be a great fit for the vice presidency.
Duterte also expressed optimism that his fellow Filipinos would accept the leaders of the country, “whoever they are.”
House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez meanwhile wished the vice-president elect a “ long life, excellent health, and more opportunities to serve her beloved Filipino people.”
“I join the Filipino nation in extending our warmest greetings to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte as she celebrates her birthday today,” Romualdez, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president, said.
According to Romualdez, Vice President-elect Inday Sara is a true blue public servant whose primary goal is to address the needs of her constituents—something that grew even stronger with the onset of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic over two years ago.
“She has the right mix of compassion, courage, and leadership that the people need for guidance and inspiration during tough times like this pandemic. We are all lucky to have her,” he said of the presidential daughter.
Romualdez worked closely with Duterte during the election season, serving as one of her two campaign managers.
She received over 32 million votes on route to a majority vote win during the May 9 polls.
“Let me also take this opportunity to extend to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte my heartfelt gratitude for accepting our offer for her to join the
Lakas-CMD as our Chair. We, her party-mates, are proud to have her as our leader and guiding light,” the Leyte solon said.
Duterte’s main message to voters during the campaign period was that of unity among Filipinos and love of country. With Maricel V. Cruz