President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed his call to his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to rule out a presidential bid in 2022.
In an interview with GMA News Monday night, the Chief Executive said he had already gone through the difficulties of the highest government post, which he does not want to be experienced by his daughter.
“I know what it’s like to be President. Don’t believe the clamor of the people because when the water gets rough, you find you’re the only one sailing the lonely sea,” President Duterte said.
The President issued the statement despite saying in 2018, that he saw his daughter succeeding him.
Duterte previously said the presidency could both “educate” and “destroy” his eldest daughter.
Sara, who currently leads the regional political party “Hugpong ng Pagbabago,” has neither confirmed nor denied plans to seek the presidency in 2022, adding that her decision would depend on the circumstances.
Calls for the younger Duterte’s presidential bid was triggered by her substitution to her father in the banquets hosted by Japan during the enthronement rites of Emperor Naruhito last October.
Palace personnel called her the “next President” after her father complained of “unbearable pain” in his back, prompting him to skip the ceremonies.
Meanwhile, in the same interview, Duterte also hit back at Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for saying that the administration’s infrastructure program is a “dismal failure.”
Drilon “doesn’t know how to count,” he said.
“He does not look at it. He doesn’t really know how to count. If his statement is just a delusion, we cannot do anything. It’s free. People judge best when they condemn,” Duterte said.
Last week, Drilon called the “Build, Build, Build” program a failure, as he claimed that only nine of the original 75 projects are being underway three years after Duterte took office.
“We only have two years and a half left in this administration. I don’t think any substantial progress insofar as that program is concerned will be achieve. I repeat, the execution is simply dismal,” Drilon said.
In 2016, the Duterte administration announced that it would allot P8.2 trillion to fund 75 flagship projects in the infrastructure program.
However, the National Economic and Development Authority recently revised the list of priority projects, as some have been shelved and replaced by “doable” items.
Drilon said revising the list was a “cosmetic” move aimed at replacing big-ticket projects by smaller ones to save face.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, meanwhile, has proposed to grant President Duterte with emergency powers to fast-track the construction of infrastructure projects of the administration.
Duterte, however, was not pleased with the proposal of granting him emergency powers.
“If you are thinking that I am corrupt, why would you give me money? Especially emergency powers? You can buy anything without a bidding? Ah, that is really rich for corruption,” Duterte said.