MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte wants his 24-year-old grandson Omar Vincent to run for mayor of Davao City one day.
In a speech during an event in Sulu last Monday, Duterte reiterated he has no interest in prolonging his stay in power. He then mentioned his grandson who was with him.
“Mag-interes na lang ako ‘yung apo ko maging mayor ng Davao, OK na ‘yan. At least may dumaang mayor na Muslim (I am just interested in seeing my grandson become mayor of Davao, that will be OK. At least there will be a Muslim mayor),” he said, referring to Omar.
Omar Vincent is the eldest son of former vice mayor Paolo Duterte, and his mother has Muslim ancestry.
The President’s daughter Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is reportedly being eyed to run for a national position in the elections next year.
Paolo resigned last year after a public spat with his daughter Isabel over her controversial debut pictorial at Malacañang. Paolo was also implicated in the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu at the Port of Manila despite the government’s war on drugs, the flagship program of the President.
The President said Davao City accommodates everybody regardless of religion.
“Ang Davao neutral wala ’yan. Wala ‘yang Muslim-Muslim, walang Moro-Moro diyan (Davao is neutral. It is not an issue if you are a Muslim or Moro),” he said.
“Lalo na si Inday, ayaw ng bigotry ’yan (Especially Inday, she doesn’t like bigotry). Because they know, I know that part of us belongs to the Moro people,” he said, referring to Sara by her nickname.
The President also said the people should be careful in electing his successor.
“And I suggest that you elect a President na hindi g***. Hindi agawin ang gobyerno, gamitin ang military (who is not an idiot. Someone who will not seize the government or use the military),” he said.
“Huwag kayong matakot sa akin hanggang ano lang – matanda na ako eh. At wala akong bisyo niyang pag-extend nang extend ng term. Hindi lang ninyo alam gaano kapagod (Don’t be afraid of me – I am already old. And I don’t like extending and extending my term. You just don’t know how exhausting my job is),” he added.
No party for Duterte’s birthday
Duterte turns 73 today, but there’s no party.
There’s also no appointment or meeting. Duterte will just spend his birthday and the entire Holy Week break with his children and grandchildren in Davao City.
Duterte has been home since last week and is expected to return to Malacañang next week.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go said Duterte does not throw lavish parties when he celebrates his birthday. He usually avoids people on his special day.
“Prayers from his well-wishers during his birthday would surely make him very happy,” Go said.
The only thing Duterte made public was his recent visit to children afflicted with cancer at the House of Hope at the Southern Philippines Medical Center compound. He has been one of the supporters of the House of Hope.
Go wished a longer life for the President.
“My wish for my boss is a long and healthy life so he can continue serving the nation. May he also be given a longer time to be with his family and loved ones,” he said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar cited the President’s accomplishments in his more than two years in office.
“For now, we pause for this one day, to render to the President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the honor and the gratitude deserving of a leader, whose vision is revealed as each day unfolds,” Andanar said.
“He acts both from the realm of power and from the homes of the powerless. The narratives of his stories belong authentically to the language of the people,” he added.
The President was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Southern Leyte to Vicente Duterte, who was the governor of the undivided Davao in the late 1950s, and Soledad Roa, a teacher.