Sara Duterte poised to be significant national figure, Arroyo says

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will play an important role in the national scene, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Arroyo said that the children of presidents “have played a prominent role in national political life.”

She cited herself, successor, former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the son of late president Corazon Aquino; the children of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada; and former interior secretary Mar Roxas, a descendant of the late president Manuel Roxas.

“Judging by history really, Mayor. Sara Duterte will become an important national figure,” the former chief executive said.

During the hours leading to the ouster of Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as House leader, several reports said it was Carpio who planned and supported the move to dethrone the Davao Del Norte lawmaker.

“It’s been public knowledge for sometime about her differences with speaker Alvarez and some congressmen say that was taking into account in their decisions. Other congressmen also say there has been a problem brewing for quite sometime and it all played out spontaneously during the SONA weekend,” Arroyo said.

Carpio was mum about her role when Arroyo was elected speaker and simply congratulated her.

Arroyo was the latest government official to express observation that the president’s daughter will become a potential national leader.

PDP-Laban president Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday urged the Davao City mayor to seek a Senate seat in the 2019 midterm polls.

Pimentel stressed Carpio should run for senator so Mindanao will have greater representation in the upper house.

“Her experience as mayor of one of the country’s highly successful cities eminently qualifies her to speak for Mindanao, for peace and order, for the environment and for the socio-economic upliftment of the marginalized sectors” he said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier said that Carpio was his “top-choice” among the young leaders in politics.

“Based on whatever political sense I have accumulated after my long years in government service, Mayor Sara stands out and is right in front of the pack,” he said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico