Siblings Sara Duterte (left) and Paolo Duterte (right) take their oath as the mayor and vice mayor of Davao City at the Hall of Justice in Davao City on Monday, June 20. The two are the children of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte with former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman. (Maria Patricia C. Borromeo and Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – The daughter and son of the President-elect Rodrigo Duterte took their oath as the newly-elected Mayor and re-elected Vice mayor, respectively, on Monday, June 20 at the Hall of Justice here.
Incoming mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who won the elections with 576,230 votes, took her oath at 9:00 in the morning before the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Executive Judge Emmanuel Carpio. Her brother Paolo, who is a re-electionist, took his oath around 9:30 am before Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 7 Judge Rufino Ferraris Jr.
Sara has served as mayor in the city from 2010 to 2013, while Paolo, who ran unopposed and got 522, 119 votes in the vice mayoral race, served as a vice mayor from 2013 up to present. Their mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman was present during their oath taking.
Sara was accompanied by her husband Atty. Manases R. Carpio, and Paolo was with his wife, Councilor January Duterte with their children. January Duterte is sitting in the city council as the president of the Association of Barangay Councils, a post previously held by her husband from 2008 to 2013.
No pressure
Both Sara and Paolo said they feel no pressure in being the President-elect’s children.
Sara, who was rumored to be her father’s first lady told reporters: “I’ll cross the bridge when I get there, (I) will just adjust.”
Sara said that she might decline any national job, position or role because “I still have to take care of my children and I also have work to do in the city hall.”
“But if there will be special request for me (in the national level), I will do it,” she said.
Paolo, who was recently caught violating the city’s speed limit said it is normal to commit mistakes and does not feel the pressure.
“I don’t, it’s just normal, when you get caught for over speeding? It’s okay if you have a violation, you must be apprehended. Why do you have to argue to the traffic enforcers?” he said.
Paolo to focus on environmental issues
Paolo said that he wants to focus on environmental issues to help his father’s administration.
“I want to focus especially on our beaches here in Philippines, because we can see that there are a lot of trash, cigarette butts, especially in Boracay and Baler. I went there and it’s really dirty so I hope that the local government unit (LGU) can make ordinances that prohibit people to smoke near the shoreline,” he said.
“We encourage our fellow men and our co-workers in the government to do their job for the people,” he added.
The Duterte children will also be attending his inauguration on June 30 at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacañang.
Sara along with her family will arrive in Manila for the inauguration on June 29, while Paolo will be arriving earlier on June 28. (davaotoday.com)
