Duterte favors abolition of political dynasty, but…

March 21, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte is in favor of the abolition of political dynasty.

In a speech Tuesday night in Manila, Duterte, however, admitted that scrapping political dynasties in the county might not pass into law.

"A few of the principled men, I would say, want this kind of thing about dynasty is abolished. I am for it," he said.

"But the problem is, will it be passed?," Duterte said, noting in the country it has been a practice that once a politician's term expires, he would have his wife, son or daughter to run for the same office.

Duterte acknowledged that he himself was guilty of this.

Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, has succeeded him as mayor of Davao City, which he served for 23 years.

But he justified Sara deserves to be in her position.

"Inday (Sara) really is...she's a character and she can be mean...the Davaoenos want to continue what I have started," he said.

Duterte cited it took him years to perfect the system in Davao.

"Why is it so peaceful, so clean? Drugs is minimal and the law and order is very good. It took me about three terms really to perfect the system," he said.

He admitted that many perished in Davao due to his war on drugs, a campaign which he is also implementing in the country where thousands of people have been killed since he assumed office in June 2016.

While the 1987 Constitution provides the prohibition of a political dynasty in the country, there is no enabling law up to now. Celerina Monte/DMS