Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said her mother had floated the possibility of Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte seeking national office instead of her, although she stressed that she and her brother have not discussed a presidential run.
Duterte was asked Tuesday, Oct. 6, whether her camp was considering fielding her brother for a national position following his recent appearance at the Senate Impeachment Court.
“Hindi namin napag-usapan ni Mayor Sebastian Duterte ang pagtakbo niya bilang pangulo,” Duterte said.
[Translation: Mayor Sebastian Duterte and I have not discussed him running for president.]
Duterte, however, recalled that their mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had previously told her to return to Davao and leave a possible national run to Baste.
“Sinabi ng nanay ko, sabi niya, umuwi ka dito sa Davao. Tapos sabi niya, bahala na si Baste dun sa national,” she said.
[Translation: My mother told me, ‘Come home to Davao.’ Then she said, ‘Let Baste take care of the national [race].’]
The vice president clarified that this was something their mother had said rather than a decision reached by the family.
Duterte said she currently has no person in mind whom she would ask to seek national office.
“Sa ngayon, ma’am, wala pa. Wala pa akong iniisip na tao na sasabihin ko na tumakbo ka,” she said.
[Translation: For now, there is no one. I don’t have anyone in mind whom I would tell to run.]
Duterte said seeking public office should ultimately be a personal decision because of the demands of campaigning, elections, and holding office.
“Ang pagtakbo talaga dapat personal na desisyon,” she said.
[Translation: Running for office should really be a personal decision.]
