VP Sara hoping, praying Duterte takes oath as mayor as start of term nears

Vice President Sara Duterte is hoping and praying that former President Rodrigo Duterte will take his oath as mayor of Davao City before his new term as local chief executive starts on June 30.

In a news conference, Sara Duterte said she didn't know the discussions between her father and his lawyers as regards taking his oath as city mayor.

"As a Davaoeño, I hope and pray that he takes his oath because I voted for him, I want him to be mayor of Davao City. That is my prayer, but we do not know what are the discussions between lawyers and former President Duterte," Sara Duterte said.

"So we wait if he takes his oath. Or he doesn’t take his oath, then we will have a situation where Davao City has an acting mayor," she added.

Her brother Baste Duterte was elected vice mayor and will be acting mayor if the former president is unable to take office.

The former president is detained in The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings related to his war on drugs when he was president and when he was mayor of Davao City.

Sara Duterte also addressed the Palace's remarks as regards her recent trip to Australia where she attended a rally in support of her father.

"Kapag personal siya at walang gamit na pera ng gobyerno, di mo kailangan magreport. Ganoon lang yan kasimple na kailangan ko pa iexplain… Nakakahiya na yung ginagawa nila," Sara Duterte said.

"Yung totoo lang, as a Filipino, I am truly embarrassed with what is happening to our country, especially coming from the administration,” she added.

(If it is a personal trip and you did not use public funds, you don’t need to report. It’s that simple but I still had to explain it… What they’re doing is so embarrassing. To be honest, as a Filipino, I am truly embarrassed by what is happening to our country, especially coming from the administration.)

In response to Malacañang’s claims that she was “disregard[ing] the issue of accountability” in declaring she was a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential elections, Sara Duterte said, "Kapag walang nangyayare sa administrasyon mo at walang ginagawa yung principal o presidente, ang gagawin nila is magtuturo ng ibang tao."

"Kapag merong kwestyon sa kawalan ng ginagawa ng administrasyon, ang gagawin nila is magtuturo sa ibang tao para mawala yung mga tanong at para magugulo yung ibang tao. That is a classic political scapegoating,” Sara Duterte said.

(If nothing is happening in your administration and the principal or president is not doing anything, what they will do is point to other people. If there are questions on the lack of action from the administration, what they will do is point to other people to lose those questions and confuse other people. That is a classic political scapegoating.) –NB, GMA Integrated News