Duterte says Inday Sara taking the lead in family's political decisions

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is now calling the shots on the political decisions of the first family, President Rodrigo Duterte said, as he claimed that his daughter is "worse" than him when it comes to enforcing regulations.

Duterte said he would no longer be active in the political scene once he steps down from office three years from now. 

"But now Inday (Sara's nickname) is the one taking the lead. Inday is the one who controls the (political decisions). Wala na ako eh (I will be gone). I know that after three years, wala na talaga ako (I will be really gone). I will no longer be able to run and you will also not be able to tell Inday what to do," the president said during the distribution of grants to cash transfer beneficiaries in Cebu last Sunday. 

READ: Sara Duterte: Pick only 12 from Hugpong slate of 13

Duterte went on to talk about how tough his daughter is as a mayor of Davao City. 

"If you go to Davao, you have to go about it carefully. I beat people up too but Inday is worse than me. Have you seen the sheriff that she punched? She even pulled his hair. He was almost bald," the president said.

He was referring to a confrontation between Sara and a court sheriff during a demolition of informal settlers' shanties in 2011. 

Duterte also recalled how Sara plotted the ouster of former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

"Have you seen Inday? Alvarez was just kidding around. But I can also impeach him. 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," the president said. 

"She started planning it in Davao. Alvarez was replaced. I wasn’t even aware that she was angry. But with Inday, you just can’t," he added. 

Earlier this month, Duterte apologized to Alvarez, admitting that he could not control his daughter.

READ: 'Si Inday ang... di ko talaga kaya': Duterte apologizes to Alvarez over ouster

Duterte has said fathers like him do not want to clash with their daughters because such disagreement could lead to a shouting match. 

Alvarez was replaced by former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during Duterte's second State of the Nation Address in July 2018. Duterte has also advised to "be careful" with Sara, who heads the regional political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago. The HNP is endorsing 13 senatorial bets in the 2019 midterm polls.

Duterte backs Mocha

At the same event, Duterte expressed support for the congressional bid of former presidential communications assistant secretary and controversial blogger Mocha Uson.

Uson is a nominee of the Kasosyo party-list, which she said aims to help Filipinos become successful entrepreneurs.

"Vote for Mocha. She’s really for the masses," Duterte said. 

"Help her, help her. She’s one of the people who helped me," he added.