‘Dictator in the offing? It’s Sara, not me’

MANILA, Philippines — It could have been a joke, but President Duterte insinuated that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is a “looming dictator” who gets everything done in terms of governing the city.

Speaking during an event at Malacañang sponsored by Go Negosyo and presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Tuesday night, Duterte tossed the dictator tag put on him by critics and said that it is Sara who is a looming despot.

“Go out at night. Because in Davao there’s another dictator in the offing, not me, but she has a Duterte surname. If you go to Davao at midnight, everything closes,” he said, referring to night clubs and other establishments.

Duterte also doused claims that he is aspiring to extend his term, calling his critics idiots.

“And for those who are dreaming that I will extend my term and be a dictator, you must be the lowest idiot in this country. Even to suggest that I have a plan. I am a lawyer and I said, were it not for the fact that I do not believe in the competence of the Vice President (Leni Rpbredo), I’m ready to go anytime,” Duterte added.

He noted how the local government under Sara’s stern leadership strictly enforces the curfew hours in his home province, as well as the smoking ban, in a bid to illustrate how disciplined the people of Davao are.

Duterte said that in Davao City people who are drinking in bars are required to go home at midnight.

The President’s statement came about three weeks after Sara reportedly called congressmen to support moves to install former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Sara, described as tough but a better version of her father, made good her earlier threat to remove former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez from the post.

Sara got mad when Alvarez belittled her local political party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago and called it part of the opposition and that it was a product of political dynasties.

An infuriated Sara sought Alvarez’s removal, made good by the confluence of events in the House that drew support from many other congressmen who were unhappy with the former speaker’s management style.

On July 23, before the President’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), Alvarez was removed and ousted from office with the help of a majority of congressmen with the support of Davao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Antonio Floirendo, Rep. Arroyo, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, among others.

From then on, the Sara-led Hugpong ng Pagbabago has become a powerhouse, gaining support from at least three national political parties and six local groupings which coalesced last Monday.