Rodrigo Duterte urged daughter Kitty to follow his footsteps in politics, says Honeylet

BOCAUE, Bulacan — Former president Rodrigo Duterte advised his youngest daughter, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte: “Mag-aral ka. Sumunod ka sa yapak ko.”

(You should study. Follow my footsteps.)

This is what Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avanceña said during PDP-Laban senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta’s Miting De Avance at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Tuesday night.

“Sabi ng anak ko, ayaw niya pumasok sa pulitika. Sabi ko, ‘Ako rin, ayoko sana.’ Pero sabi ng papa niya, ‘Mag-aral ka. Sumunod ka sa yapak ko,’” she said, noting how she had seen her daughter matured overnight after the elder Duterte was arrested for crimes against humanity and brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 11.

(My daughter said she does not want to enter politics. I felt the same. But her father said she should study and to follow in his footsteps.)

The 21-year-old Kitty took the stage where she said she never intended to join politics but recent events surrounding her father’s arrest have changed her stance.

“Ako ay isang 21-year-old college student lamang at ayaw ko sanang makisali sa politika. Pero nang dahil sa pag-kidnap at pag-abuso nila sa tatay ko, nandito ako ngayon para ipaglaban hindi lamang ang pamilya ko kundi ang bansang Pilipinas,” she declared.

(I am just a 21-year-old college student and I did not wish to join politics. But after they kidnapped and abused my father, I am now here to fight not only for my family but also for my country, the Philippines.)

Meanwhile, she also called on the Filipino youth to vote wisely, stressing that the future of the nation is in their hands: “Sa mga kababayan ko, sa kapwa ko kabataan, bumoto tayo ng tama. Dahil dito nakasalalay ang kinabukasan.”

She also expressed her support for the PDP-Laban senatorial slate, notably backing Marcoleta, who she referred to as “my senator.’

Concluding her speech, Kitty echoed her father’s deep commitment to the nation:

“My love for my country is what brought me here. There was never any personal agenda involved. Mahal niya ang bayan niya. Pilipinas, Duterte pa rin!”

(He loves his country. Philippines, stand with Duterte!)

On Sunday, Kitty said she has no plans yet to make a return trip to The Hague, Netherlands. Her father, Rodrigo Duterte, is currently facing charges of human rights violations during his administration’s deadly war on drugs. —RF, GMA Integrated News

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