Duterte wishes grandson to become Davao City mayor someday

President Rodrigo Duterte said he wished to see his grandson, Omar Vincent Duterte, to become mayor of Davao City someday. (ALFRED FRIAS/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

President Rodrigo Duterte said he wishes to see his grandson, Omar Vincent Duterte, to become the mayor of Davao City someday.

Speaking at an event in Patikul Sulu last Monday, Duterte reiterated that he does not want to extend his term as the leader of Filipino people.

“Huwag kayong matakot sa akin hanggang ano lang — matanda na ako eh, matanda na ako. At wala akong bisyo niyang pag-extend nang extend ng term. Hindi lang ninyo alam gaano kapagod (Do not be afraid of me, I am already old. I don’t have an interest to prolong my term. You don’t know how exhausting it is),” the President said.

“Mag-interes na lang ako ‘yung apo ko maging mayor ng Davao, Okay na ‘yan. At least may dumaang mayor na Muslim (I am just interested in seeing my grandson to become mayor of Davao, that’s okay. At least there will be a Muslim mayor),” he added.

Omar Vincent, who was with the Chief Executive during the event, is the son of former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and Lovelie Sumera, who is a Maranao.

Paolo, tendered his resignation as vice mayor of the city on December 25 last year due to numerous issues thrown against him and his family. These, among others, include the maligning of his reputation in the name-dropping incident in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) smuggling case and the very public spat he had with his daughter, Isabelle Duterte.

According to the President, Davao City welcomes anyone regardless of their religion.

“Davao, neutral naman eh. It’s because kami. Ang Davao neutral wala ‘yang — wala ‘yang Muslim-Muslim, walang Moro-Moro diyan (Davao is neutral. It’s not a problem whether you are a Muslim or a Moro),” Duterte stressed.

“Lalo na si Inday, ayaw ng bigotry ‘yan. Kasi they know (Especially Inday, she doesn’t like bigotry, because they know), I know na part of us belongs to the Moro people,” he continued.

While wishing his grandson to follow his footsteps, the President last week announced that he supports the anti-political dynasty bill, but he doubts that this will pass Congress.

“I am for it. Ang problema, lulusot ba ‘yan (The problem is, will it be passed)?” he said in a speech during the assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) on March 20.

The voters, he explained, are the ones who look for relatives of politicians once their term is finished.

“Sa atin pagkatapos mo, eh (In our country, after your term), they would ask for your son, or your wife,” he added.

Duterte served seven terms as mayor of Davao City.

When he was elected as the President of the Philippines, his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, replaced him as the city’s chief executive.