As Philippines' Duterte starts to flag, his daughter reaches out to a Marcos
AUGUST 18, 2018 / 9:08 PM / UPDATED 13 HOURS AGO
Martin Petty, Manuel Mogato
MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte thinks political dynasties are bad. But the way the prevailing political winds are blowing, it looks like a dynasty of his own might be taking shape.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (L) and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos gestures during an alliance meeting with local political parties in Paranaque, Metro Manila in Philippines, August 13, 2018. Picture taken August 13, 2018. REUTERS/Czeasar Dancel
Nine months away from mid-term elections that could determine the success or failure of his presidency, his daughter, Sara Duterte, is fast emerging as a power-broker who is aiming to shore up support for his ambitious policy agenda, and, say some experts and insiders, his eventual succession.
By his own admission, the 73-year-old president is flagging. On Tuesday, he lamented his uphill struggle to tackle illicit drugs and cut state corruption, predicting that he’ll “hardly make a dent” in his remaining four years in office.
During a ceremony and again at a dinner afterwards, he said he was tired, exasperated and thinking about quitting, and ended his somber, one hour, 20 minute speech with: “I’m telling you, I’m ready to step down and retire.”
That contrasts sharply from his 40-year-old daughter, who has started maneuvering to build alliances and expand her small party in the southern Davao region into a new political juggernaut, as fissures appear in her father’s ruling PDP-Laban party.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-politics/as-philippines-duterte-starts-to-flag-his-daughter-reaches-out-to-a-marcos-idUSKBN1L400Q
