Will Duterte’s Daughter Be His Presidential Successor?
Will Duterte's Daughter Be His Presidential Successor?
On October 3, following Duterte’s “resignation” from politics, he announced that his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio– will run for the 2022 presidential election with one of his loyal aides as Vice President. Carpio currently serves as mayor Davao City, a position for which she has already filed for re-election. However, per Philippine election rules, she is permitted to drop out of the mayoral election and register in a different race until November 15.
According to Carpio’s spokesperson, she does not intend to run as a member of PDP-Laban (Rodrigo Duterte’s political party). Interestingly, several reports demonstrate that people view Carpio as her own political force, separate from her father. However, the move to elect a successor is extremely strategic for the Duterte administration. Duterte is currently involved in an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court for his violent and deadly drug war. Thus, Duterte is seeking a successor who will shield him from legal charges.
Despite dismissing claims that she plans to run, Carpio is already the top contender in the polls. Another well-known name, Ferdinand Marcos, namesake son of the former Philippine dictator, could potentially join the fray as a presidential candidate or vice president. Several political analysts have commented on the similarities between Carpio’s last-minute hat-toss and that of her father. In 2016, Duterte won by a landslide.
The upcoming presidential election has once again sparked conversations about the power of political dynasties in the Philippines– a few elite families (including the Duterte and Marcos clans) have wielded immense political power in the Philippine government and beyond. To illustrate the extent of dynastic influence in the nation, political science research from University of the Philippines-Diliman shows that nearly 70 percent of the Philippine Congress is dynastic.
Carpio’s (potential) bid for presidency is yet another example of the enduring legacy of the Philippines’ political dynasties.
Sources:
https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/Teresa%20Tadem%20Political%20Dynasty.pdf