Malacañang is grateful for the public's support for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio and her father President Duterte after they emerged as top presidential tandem based on a recent poll.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami sa patuloy na tiwala ng ating taumbayan sa ating Presidente at kay Mayor Sara Duterte (We thank the people for their continued trust in our President and Mayor Sara Duterte)," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, August 3.
"Malinaw naman po iyan na hindi natin maiiwasan ‘no na talagang ang suporta kay Mayor Sara ay pagsuporta rin sa ating Presidente. Maraming salamat po (It is clear that the support for Mayor Sara shows support for our President. Thank you very much)," he added
A pre-election survey conducted by OCTA group showed Mayor Duterte and her father leading the list of Filipinos' preferred presidential and vice presidential contenders in the next elections.
In survey conduct last July, at least 28 percent of the 1,200 respondents chose the President's daughter as their presidential candidate if the elections were held today.
Coming in second is former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 13 percent. Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso ranked third, followed by Senator Grace Poe and Senator Manny Pacquiao.
President Duterte also topped the choices for vice presidential bets with 18 percent. Duterte, who remained open to running for the second-highest government post, was followed by Domagoso, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, Poe, and Marcos.
Duterte will end his six-year term next year and is not eligible for reelection. His political party however urged him to run for vice president and choose their standard bearer.
After initially showing reluctance, Duterte recently declared he was "seriously thinking" about a vice-presidential run to get immunity from lawsuits when he step down as president next year. While he remained open to such elective post, Duterte has discouraged his daughter from gunning the presidency, saying it was no job for a woman.