Duterte says daughter Sara won't seek national post
MANILA, Philippines — Despite her strong survey numbers, Davao City mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte is not running for a national post, President Rodrigo Duterte said.
"Ang anak ko, si (My daughter) Inday, I can tell you I know her. Hindi magtatakbo ‘yan ng national. Ganun lang ‘yan (She won't seek a national post. She's just like that)," Duterte said during the anniversary of the National Security Council and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in Pasay City Tuesday night.
Inday is the nickname of Sara.
Sara was in the winning circle in the latest Pulse Asia survey on the 2019 senatorial elections.
The nationwide survey, which was conducted from June 15 to 21, found 46.2 percent of respondents saying they would support the mayor, giving her a statistical ranking of 3rd to 5th. The mayor was behind Sen. Grace Poe, Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano and Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Sara has said she was overwhelmed by the poll results but has yet to announce her plans for next year.
Duterte, whose family is an influential clan in Davao City, also reaffirmed his support for a law banning political dynasties.
"I am in favor of putting up... a dynasty law. I am okay with that. I have no problem," the president said.
Last March, Duterte expressed doubts that an anti-dynasty bill would be enacted by Congress, which is dominated by political families. He said there were instances when voters want the children of politicians to continue the programs of their parents.
The president cited his political career in Davao City, where he served as mayor for more than two decades. He said Davaoeños backed Sara because they want her to continue his law and order policies. — Alexis Romero
Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, the eldest daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, hints that she may run for Senate in next year's elections.
She says there's a 50-50 chance that she will run for a national position, possibly the Senate. She adds that she and her brother, former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., have already been going around the country.
The Ilocos Norte governor says the Marcos family is already discussing plans for next year's elections as her brother's electoral protest is "taking forever and ever."
Defeated vice presidential candidate Bongbong has filed a poll protest after he lost to Leni Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 elections. — with a report from Romina Cabrera
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. is withdrawing his bid for senator, he says on his Facebook page.
He says he is withdrawing because of health issues.
"I have recently undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention following the discovery of an unstable angina coronary disease earlier this week. In the days since the procedure, I have been forced to confront the reality of my physical situation and what it ultimately means for my aspirations to public service," he says.
Roque, a human rights lawyer before joining government, had initially said he was running as a party-list representative and would advocate passage of laws to protect the environment. Days later, he pushed through with filing a certificate of candidacy for senator.
The Commission on Elections released a preliminary list of aspirants for the 2019 midterm elections for possible correction of names.
The initial list included those who had been named in the poll body's law department petition to be declared nuisance candidates for senator.
"Hindi pa lahat yan, sure na pasok. For verification of accuracy lang yan - so that the candidates can correct misspellings or errors, if any," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Twitter.
Below is the tentative list of candidates for senator in the 2019 elections.