Sara for President? Duterte just trusts daughter, not trying to hold on to power, says Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte is not trying to hold on to power when he said he wanted daughter Davao City Sara Duterte as his successor, Malacañang said on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella made the remark after a Philippine Star report quoted the Chief Executive saying that he couldn’t find a better successor other than his own daughter.

“I think you’re making a breathtaking leap by assuming that he wants power when he says that his daughter is somebody that he trusts,” Abella said.

Abella said that Duterte’s statement was not an official position.

“I think that the President is just being very, very pragmatic, you know. It’s not a question of wanting to perpetuate power but ensuring that whatever gains he has — whatever gains that we have made, the administration may have made will be preserved by someone that he actually trusts,” Abella said.

“I think the issue here is trust. The issue here is that he trusts the capability of Sara. At this stage, that is his statement, okay? ‘Yun ang statement niya, na nakita niya ‘yung capacity, capability, puso, intention noong—ni Sara Duterte,” he added.

Abella said that the Davao City Mayor should be seen not just as a presidential daughter.

“I think you have to consider her as an independent personality and not just his daughter. Para bang she is an effective person and Mayor and politician who happens to be his daughter,” Abella said. —JST, GMA News