Roque: Duterte wants daughter Sara to run for president in Eleksyon 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte wanted his daughter,  Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to run for president in 2022, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.

Roque made the disclosure when he was being quizzed as to what caused the falling out between President Duterte, who is the PDP-Laban chair, and the ruling party's acting president Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.

“Sinabi niya na gusto niya i-endorso si Inday Sara pero kung ayaw talaga (The President did say he wanted to endorse Inday Sara, but if she won’t run), let us see who has the numbers: Senator Pacquiao, Mayor Isko (Moreno), former Senator Bongbong Marcos,” Roque said.

“Di nakaantay si Senator Pacquiao (Senator Pacquiao could not wait for endorsement),” he added.

Sought for clarification since the President earlier said he does not want his daughter to run for President in 2022, Roque confirmed President wanted Sara to run.

“Sinabi niya, gusto niyang tumakbo si Mayor Sara pero ayaw ni Mayor Sara (He said he wants Sara to run but she does not want to),” he added.

Roque then claimed that the President’s previous comments discouraging his daughter from running for President were out of concern.

“‘Yung mga sinasabi niyang (President Duterte) words of discouragement kay Mayor Sara, kung pakikinggan niyo, it's because ayaw niya 'yung hardship, ayaw niya ang mga negative aspects of the presidency na maranasan ng kanyang anak,” Roque said.

[His words on his daughter were because he does not want her to experience the hardship, negative aspects of Presidency.]

“Pero at the same time, malinaw ang sabi niya sa akin na di umano ay ayaw raw ni Mayor Sara, and he has to be ready with his candidate: Iyong mga panahon na 'yon, ang sabi niya, we should know who our candidate is by June,”  he added.

[But he did clearly said to me that Mayor Sara does not want to run, and he has to be ready with his candidate, and we should know who that is by June [this year]. That is what he said that time.]

The President earlier threatened Pacquiao that he will be exposed for being a liar, with the chief executive taking offense over the senator’s supposed claims that corruption is rampant during the Duterte administration.

Roque did not answer queries if the President wants Pacquiao ousted from PDP-Laban but instead hinted that the President does not have longstanding ties with the political party.

“He recognizes that PDP-Laban is the Pimentel family’s party,” Roque said.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III earlier said Pacquiao, a professional boxer, is a good choice for a PDP-Laban’s presidential bet in 2022 polls.—AOL/NB, GMA News