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Philippines' Duterte says presidency no job for a woman

Published 01/14/2021, 11:14 PM
Updated 01/14/2021, 11:20 PM

* Duterte says does not want daughter to succeed him
* Opinion poll shows Sara Duterte is top contender
* Daughter says will not run for presidency

By Karen Lema
MANILA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte
on Thursday declared that the presidency was no job for a woman
because of their emotional differences to men, and dismissed
speculation that his daughter would succeed him next year.
"My daughter is not running. I have told Inday not to run
because I pity (her) knowing she will have to go through what I
am going through," Duterte said at the launch of a highway
project, referring to his daughter Sara by her nickname.
"This is not for women. You know, the emotional set-up of a
woman and a man is totally different. You will become a fool
here. So... that is the sad story."
The Philippines has had two women presidents, Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2010 and Corazon Aquino from 1986
to 1992.
Duterte, 75, is notorious for comments often deemed
offensive, sexist and misogynistic, but his office typically
calls his remarks harmless jokes. He remains hugely popular
among female voters in the Philippines.
Daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, 42, who succeeded him as mayor
of Davao City, came top in a recent opinion poll that asked the
public to choose a preferred candidate from a list of possible
contenders for the 2022 elections.
Two other women, Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator
Grace Poe, were hypothetical contenders.
Presidents in the Philippines are allowed only one, six-year
term in office. Arroyo's was longer as she took over from an
impeached former president.
Responding to Duterte's remarks, Cristina Palabay of human
rights group Karapatan said women are as capable as men in any
job. "What matters most especially when we talk of the
presidency and public office is if the interests of the poor
majority are upheld," she said.
Duterte-Carpio has cultivated an image as a reluctant
successor as mayor of Davao, where she is hugely popular for
showing the same tough, no-nonsense character as her father, who
ran the city for two decades.
She is no stranger to presidential duties, serving as first
lady because of her father's annulled marriage.
Duterte-Carpio on Thursday told Reuters said had informed
her father she did not intend to run and would not be a late
entry as he was six years ago.
"I am not being coy nor am I doing a 'last-minute',"
Duterte-Carpio said in a text message. "If the whole country
does not want to believe (this) then I can't do anything about
it. Not everyone wants to be president. I am one of them."
She added: "I thank all of them for their trust and
confidence in what I can do but my refusal to run for president
is not the end of the world."

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