Sara Duterte: I don't want to be president

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said she has no intention to run for president in the 2022 elections.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, Duterte told Reuters that she would not be a late entry in the presidential race as his father President Rodrigo Duterte was six years ago.

“I am not being coy nor am I doing a last minute. If the whole country doesn’t want to believe that, then I can’t do anything about it. Not everyone wants to be president. I am one of them,” Sara said.

“I thank all of them for their trust and confidence in what I can do but my refusal to run for president is not the end of the world,” she added.

Sara had earlier topped a Pulse Asia survey on possible candidates for president in the 2022 elections but she said she was not interested and asked survey firms to exclude her in similar surveys in the future.

Earlier, President Duterte said the presidency was not for women as he discouraged his daughter from running for president in 2022 despite being urged by many.

"My daughter, inuudyok naman nila, sabi ko ‘My daughter is not running.’ I have told Inday not to run kasi naaawa ako sa dadaanan niya na dinaanan [ko]," Duterte said.

"Hindi ito pambabae. Alam mo the emotional setup of a woman and a man is totally different. Maging gago ka dito," he added.

Several lawmakers have slammed the president’s misogynistic remark.

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas said the presidency is not for those who look down on women.

For her part, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago said the presidency knows no gender.

After Duterte's remark, Senator Risa Hontiveros also said the women of the country will ensure that they will elect a better administration.

The Philippines already had two women presidents  — Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2010.

Both their predecessors — former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada — were removed from power following massive protests.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News