Duterte vs Duterte in Davao city mayoral race?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Will it be brother versus sister in the race for Davao city mayor next year?

The question was raised following the resignation of Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte as a member of his father’s local party, the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, earlier this week – a move that shocked Davaoeños.

In his resignation letter dated September 23, the vice mayor said: “I am compelled to offer my resignation as a member, effective immediately. I wish I could do otherwise but recent events have persuaded me to carefully examine the direction my political career is taking.”

He lamented that the party leadership “does not seem to recognize nor see the effort and determination that I have invested in the service of the Hugpong, thus I feel that the current leadership is intentionally turning a blind eye to my contribution to the cause.”

“Hence, my decision to resign from the Hugpong as I feel that my presence is unappreciated and unacknowledged and sometimes even unwelcomed (sic) to the current leadership of the party,” Paolo added.

The vice mayor has openly expressed his desire to run for mayor should his father decide to seek the presidency. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, however, has asked his daughter, former mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to run for mayor if he decides to retire from politics in 2016.

Sara has consistently said that she would rather remain as a product endorser and a mother. Mayor Duterte had said he would not seek the presidency. (READ: Duterte: ‘I am not running for president)

Hurt?

Local observers believe that Paolo was hurt by the the mayor’s open endorsement of Sara, and not him. But in an interview with reporters, the mayor said his son “must be hurt when I declared the vice mayoral slot open to other Hugpong members. “

On Tuesday, Mayor Duterte said that many Hugpong councilors want to run for vice mayor next year. He mentioned 3 names.

When asked about his son’s resignation from the party, he told reporters he considered the slot for vice mayor open because he wants Paolo to run for mayor.

“If Inday Sara continues to refuse the mayor’s post as she consistently does these days, then it follows that he (Paolo) will have to run for mayor. That’s why I declared Hugpong’s vice mayor slot open,” he explained.

Paolo has discounted the possibility of a looming political fight between him and his sister.

“That will never happen, because our family respects each other’s decision and we are not power hungry,” he told Rappler.

Paolo added, “I will not make any decision that will hurt members of my family specially my younger sister Inday.”

Rappler learned that the siblings had a get together on Wednesday night at the home of their mother. – Rappler.com