The Economist explains
Who is Sara Duterte, the Philippine president’s daughter running for office?
Her election as vice-president would fit the country’s pattern of family politics
AFTER MONTHS of speculation, Sara Duterte, a Philippine politician and daughter of the current president, announced on November 13th her intention to run as vice-president in elections next May. And hers will not be the only familiar name on the ballot.
Ms Duterte was born into what has become a political dynasty. Her grandfather was a lawyer and a provincial governor. Her father, Rodrigo Duterte, also a lawyer, served as mayor of Davao, the Philippines’ third-most populous city, before becoming the country’s president in 2016. Ms Duterte followed her progenitors into law, then won Davao’s mayoralty. Now she may follow her father into national government.
The constitution denies Mr Duterte a second six-year term. Having his daughter in power, however, could allow him to retain influence over the government. After months of political posturing by father and daughter alike, Ms Duterte registered for re-election as mayor of Davao on October 2nd, disappointing supporters who had been pasting “Run, Sara, Run” posters urging her to aspire higher. Then, on November 9th, Ms Duterte withdrew from the mayoral race. A few days later she confirmed the country’s worst kept secret—that she will run for office next May, though not that of the president. Instead she filed her candidacy for the vice-presidency. (The country elects its vice-president separately from the president.) The political party of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, son of the Philippines’ former dictator, said Ms Duterte would join him on the ticket. The pair will make a formidable team.
Like her tough-talking father, Ms Duterte is hugely popular. Ms Duterte’s Instagram account shows her riding motorcycles and also caring for her three children (nicknamed Sharky, Stingray and Stonefish). As mayor, she once punched a court official who got in her way. But her language and demeanour are less aggressive than her father’s. While he urges police officers to kill drug dealers, she talks about rehabilitating drug addicts. Relations with her father are said to be strained, and Ms Duterte’s latest manoeuvring has put some distance between them. But whatever their stylistic and personal differences, if elected Ms Duterte may try to protect Mr Duterte from international prosecutors investigating whether the killing of thousands of Filipinos in his war on drugs was a crime against humanity.
Other contenders for the presidency include Manny Pacquiao, a former world-champion boxer; Isko Moreno, Manila’s mayor; and Bong Go, a long-time aide of Mr Duterte’s since the latter’s days in Davao. Many voters seem to regard a capability to govern as hereditary. Mr Duterte’s two immediate predecessors, Benigno Aquino and Gloria Arroyo, were the offspring of presidents. If Mr Marcos and Ms Duterte are elected, Philippine politics will become even more of a family affair.
Image credit: AFP
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