Duterte to Sara: Get out of politics

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has called on Vice President Sara Duterte, who has had a falling out with her erstwhile running mate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., to leave politics at the soonest.

"Si Inday, pasalamat ka na lang sa Diyos na ang tatay mo naging Presidente, ikaw naging Vice President. Bihirang-bihira yan, bihira sa isang pamilya. Hindi lahat ng pamilya sa Pilipinas... pasalamat na lang tayo. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics," Duterte said at a press conference with Davao City-based media, referring to the Vice President by her nickname, Inday Sara.

(Inday, she should just thank the Lord that her father became President and she became Vice President. That is a very rare occurrence, very rare for a family. Not all families experience this. Let's just be thankful. Now, as fast as you can, get out of politics.)

Video clips of the former President's press conference was posted on the Facebook page of the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Sara is facing a congressional inquiry on the budget use of the Vice President's office and that of the Department of Education when she served as Education chief. Congressmen involved in the probe have recently raised questions related to state auditors' findings that the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) use of confidential funds was accompanied by inconsistent acknowledgement receipts.

"Maghanapbuhay ka, negosyo, basta mabuhay ka lang [ng] mapayapa. Umalis ka na dyan sa pulitika. Huwag ka na mag-ambisyon, tutal vice president ka na," Duterte added.

(Just earn a living, run a business, just live peacefully. Get out of politics. Don't be ambitious. Anyway, you are already the vice president.)

Duterte, however, conceded that his daughter does not follow his advice.

"Si Inday, pumasok ng politika. You have to navigate yourself in the sea of power. Hindi ko maturuan si Inday, hindi ko magpagsabihan. Hindi nakikinig sa akin 'yan. 'Yan ang anak ko na hindi nakikinig sa akin," Duterte said.

(Inday entered politics. I cannot teach her anything. I can't give her advice. She does not listen to me. She's the one who does not listen to me.)

"Ayaw na akong kausapin. Kampi sa nanay niya. Mas makinig ‘yun sa nanay, hindi sa akin," Duterte added.

(She does not even want to talk to me. She sides with her mother. She would rather listen to her mother, not me.)

The Vice President has maintained that she did not misuse OVP funds and that the congressional inquiry is just a test case for impeachment.

During the same interview, Duterte said he supports the Senate bid of Apollo Quiboloy, the detained Davao-based evangelist facing qualified human trafficking, child abuse and sexual abuse charges in the Philippines. Quiboloy is also charged with alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling in the United States.

"Pastor [Quiboloy] is ... maraming alam sa buhay (he knows a lot about life). Pastor is a very keen observer, very bright. He would be an asset to the country," Duterte said.

"I will campaign for him all throughout the country," Duterte added.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the religious group founded by Quiboloy, earlier appointed the elder Duterte as the administrator of its properties. — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News