Although understanding Vice President Sara Duterte's character could be quite challenging, her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte assured that she’s someone Filipinos can rely on.
(From left) Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte (Richard Madelo/Presidential Photo)
Speaking with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on SMNI news channel, the former chief executive gave a glimpse of the Vice President’s character.
“Sa lahat ng anak ko, ito ‘yung may karakter. Maski ‘yung mga tao, magti-tiptoe kayo. Maasahan mo (Out of all my children, this is the one with character. The people would need to tiptoe around her. You can rely on her),” he said on Wednesday, May 31, the day his daughter celebrated her 45th birthday.
He added that he was sure there won’t be scams, like the text book scam, at the Department of Education (DepEd), which Duterte heads.
But the former president also admitted that even he himself does not know how to appease her.
“Magti-tiptoe ka basta si Inday. Hindi nga malaman how to (appease) her. Lahat pati pulis nakaassign sa kanya, hirap intindihin ng mga tao ganun (Everyone tiptoes around Inday. We don’t know how to [appease] her. Everyone, including the police assigned to her, have a hard time),” the older Duterte said.
“Eh hindi nga ako makaintindi na tatay ako, kayo pa (As a father, I don’t understand her, what more you)?,” he furthered.
Reports that there’s a rift between father and daughter started during the 2022 campaign season when the older Duterte didn’t seem to know that the then-Davao City mayor filed her candidacy for vice president.
Both camps denied any serious tension between the two, and the former chief executive was present when Duterte took her oath as vice president.