Sara now controls family’s political plans —Duterte

His daughter Sara is now in charge of the family's political future, President Rodrigo Duterte said over the weekend.

Duterte, who is almost halfway through his six-year term in Malacañang, indicated that he would soon have no influence over his eldest daughter who succeeded him as Davao City mayor.

"Inday is the one taking the lead… Wala na ako eh. I know that after three years, wala na talaga ako," Duterte said in a speech delivered in a mix of Bisaya, Tagalog and English in Cebu City.

"I will no longer be able to run and you will also not be able to tell Inday what to do," he added.

Duterte said Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez felt the influence of Sara, one of his two "very mean" daughters and the "most superior" among his children.

"Have you seen Inday? Alvarez was just kidding around [when he said] but I can also impeach him [the President]," Duterte said.

"So if you will make a joke, don’t joke around with someone who has a father, mother, sibling and children behind her. You better watch out," he added.

Alvarez was eventually replaced by Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in time for the State of the Nation Address of Duterte.

Duterte lauded he daughter for the discipline she had implemented in Davao City.

"By 12 midnight, it’s as if Davao has closed down. No people will be walking outside by then. Nobody’s smoking or drinking because if Inday sees you, she’ll slap you," Duterte said.

"If you go to Davao, you have to go about it carefully. I beat people up too but Inday is worse than me," he added. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/NB, GMA News