MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the eldest daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is pregnant with triplets, she said on Friday, August 19, amidst the Kadayawan festivities. 

“I would like to share with you the news that I am pregnant and cannot join you in the merrymaking activities. We are expecting triplets and they are doing well on their 7th week,” said Mayor Duterte in a press statement.

This will make President Duterte the grandfather of 12. He currently has 5 grandkids from eldest son Paolo, two from Sara, and 2 from youngest son Sebastian.

Sara’s pregnancy has required her to take extra care, as advised by her doctors.

“I will continue to work until I am allowed by the doctors to do so, however, I have been advised to avoid crowded places to lessen the chances of acquiring infections,” said Sara. 

Being pregnant with triplets has its share of challenges, she shared. 

“The human body is made to carry just one baby and I am experiencing threefold all the pregnancy symptoms that a woman goes through. I am having a hard time with the symptoms as well as the complications of a multifetal pregnancy,” she said. 

But though she may be physically weak, she assured the public, particularly Davaoeños, that she is “on top of the situation here in our city.”

“The President is delighted with the news of his daughter’s pregnancy,” said Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday.

“He is also hopeful that she will be able to see through the pregnancy smoothly and well,” reads the Palace statement.

Sara is the President’s only daughter with former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman with whom he has two other children, Paolo and Sebastian. Duterte has a younger daughter, Veronica, with common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña.

Duterte-Carpio is married to lawyer Manases Carpio, nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. – Rappler.com