Duterte on Inday Sara as next president: Just a joke

President Rodrigo Duterte was only joking when he said he wanted to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to be his successor.

“It started with a joke,” he said in an interview that aired on state-run People’s Television on Friday. It was taped on Tuesday night in Malacañang.

Duterte said he made the suggestion after he was told that his successor should be like him, but added that Sara had no interest in politics.

“Ayaw ni Inday na sa pulitika,” Duterte said, pointing out that his daughter her resignation as Davao City Mayor after the he took his oath of office.

“Napalitan lang siya para makatakbo ako,” he added.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella had earlier said that Duterte was not trying to hold on to power when he made the remark.

“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