Sara Duterte to run for vice-president under Arroyo’s party

Philippine politics has taken a bizarre turn, with the prospect of President Rodrigo Duterte running against his own daughter for the vice-presidency next year.

Ms Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, yesterday filed the papers to make her run for office official.

She is entering the race by way of substitution, replacing the candidate for vice-president of Lakas (Strength), the political party of former president Gloria Arroyo that she joined only on Thursday.

But just hours later, her 76-year-old father showed up at the head office of the poll commission in Manila with his long-time aide, Senator Bong Go, who withdrew his candidacy for vice-president to run for the top office instead.

Mr Martin Andanar, Mr Duterte's press secretary, then said the President would return to the commission's office tomorrow to formalise his own bid to run for vice-president, under Mr Go.

Mr Go told reporters his decision to run for president was "a party decision, a decision of President Duterte".

The president and vice-president are elected separately in the Philippines, and the country's top two elected officials usually come from different parties.

Mr Duterte, who cannot seek a second term under the Constitution, had earlier abandoned a bid for vice-president and announced his retirement from politics.

Yesterday's developments suggest that Mr Go and Mr Duterte may now go head-to-head against an opposing ticket made up of Ms Duterte-Carpio and former senator Ferdinand Marcos.

Mr Marcos' own political party has announced that it is "adopting" Ms Duterte-Carpio as its candidate for vice-president.

Lakas, Mrs Arroyo's party, is, in turn, expected to endorse Mr Marcos as its candidate for president.

Responding to the latest turn of events, labour leader Leody de Guzman, who is running for president himself, described it as "nothing but a telenovela" cooked up by the Dutertes.

Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, a senator who is also seeking the presidency, said he welcomed Ms Duterte-Carpio's decision to throw her hat into the ring, but added that the way she entered the race was disingenuous.

"I would like to remind voters to think clearly because it seems like they're toying with us. They will promise anything just to get elected. But have they ever delivered on any of their promises?" Mr Pacquiao said.

Senate president Tito Sotto, the top pick for vice-president in opinion polls who now faces the prospect of running against both Mr Duterte and Ms Duterte-Carpio, said "it doesn't matter to us who else is running".

Ms Duterte-Carpio has for months denied any interest in succeeding her father as president. Her political future seemed destined to end in Davao City after three more years as mayor.

But last Tuesday, she quit the mayor's race, and two days later, joined Mrs Arroyo's party.

Elections will take place in the Philippines next May for president, vice-president, governors, mayors and local officials. The window for changing candidates expires on Nov 15.