Duterte Father and Daughter May Clash in Philippine Vice Presidential Election

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Confusion is intensifying as unexpected developments continue ahead of the final candidate registration for the Philippine presidential election scheduled for May next year. Interest is particularly growing as there is even a possibility of a father-daughter contest in the vice presidential race.

According to major foreign and local media on the 14th, the Philippine presidential election scene was greatly shaken yesterday due to President Rodrigo Duterte (76) and his daughter. Reports indicate that Sara Duterte (43), mayor of Davao and daughter of President Duterte, is expected to run for vice president, breaking expectations that she would challenge for the presidency. Christina Frasco, spokesperson for Mayor Liloan, announced that she has registered as a candidate for next year's vice presidential election with the Philippine Commission on Elections.

Furthermore, after Mayor Sara completed her candidate registration, the camp of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, who has already declared his presidential bid, named her as his running mate. Former Senator Marcos, who inherited the name of his father, the late dictator and former President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, completed his presidential candidate registration last month.

Mayor Sara, who had been leading various presidential opinion polls, sparked speculation about a presidential run after she gave up her bid for re-election as mayor on the 9th, but the political sphere was stirred when it became known that her destination was the vice presidential race. The confusion continued when reports emerged on the same day that her father, President Duterte, would also run for vice president.

Media reported that Senator Christopher Go, a close aide of President Duterte who had registered for the vice presidential election last month, changed his registration to a presidential candidate on this day. Meanwhile, foreign media reported that Martin Andanar, the presidential spokesperson, confirmed media reports that President Duterte will register as a vice presidential candidate on the final registration day, the 15th, setting up a contest against his daughter, Mayor Sara.

President Duterte, who cannot seek re-election under the constitution, initially intended to run for vice president but declared his retirement from politics after withdrawing his vice presidential candidacy earlier last month. However, Andanar said regarding the 'vice presidential candidacy,' "It is President Duterte's plan, and we do not know if that plan will change," leaving room for possible changes in the situation.

The Philippines will separately elect the president and vice president in the election next May, along with a large number of lawmakers and officials, totaling about 18,000 members of the House and Senate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.