MANILA, (Reuters) – Philippine President Rodrigo’s daughters will be running for president next year. His long-time aide would also run. The broadcasting firm ABS-CBN reported that Rodrigo’s father would become her running mate.

Sara Duterte Carpio, currently the mayor of Davao (the Philippines’ third largest city), filed to run again for mayor on Saturday. She previously stated that she wouldn’t run for national office next.

ABS-CBN’s news reported on an interview Duterte did with a broadcast journalist after he had announced his retirement from politics. He was accompanying Senator Christopher “Bong,” Go, his close friend, and who also filed his vice-presidential campaign.

The question was posed to him: “So, Sara-Go?

Duterte responded, “It is SaraGo.”

Duterte Carpio’s spokesperson, Go, did not respond immediately to a Reuters inquiry for comment.

ABS-CBN news said it obtained permission from the broadcast journalist to use the video https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/02/21/duterte-sara-to-run-for-president-with-go-as-her-vp showing Duterte outside a hotel in Manila where the registration of candidates was taking place, and that a transcript was also provided.

Duterte also answered a question about when his daughter would run for the presidency. He said, “I don’t know.” It is not something I know.

When asked if his daughter had granted him permission to run for the presidency, Duterte replied: “Ah no, we don’t discuss politics. Since we have never discussed politics. Duterte said that he would agree it was for the best.

ABS-CBN stated that Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco, responded “no comment” when she was asked what Duterte-Carpio said.

Duterte, 76, said on Saturday he was retiring from politics https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-president-duterte-says-he-is-retiring-politics-2021-10-02, a surprise move that fuelled speculation he was clearing the way for a presidential run by his daughter.

It was expected that he would run for the No. 2 job, a plan most Filipinos oppose https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsyscode=ART-20210927101343 as violating the spirit of the constitution which sets a one-term limit for the president to stop power being abused.

Duterte Carpio’s mayorial filing of re-election, didn’t do much to dispel speculation she is eyeing the presidency.

However, political analysts are skeptical. They point out that there were always last-minute adjustments, like in 2015 when Duterte entered into the presidential race at eleven o’clock and won by an enormous margin. Duterte and Carpio could also do this, they stated.

Candidates may register up to Oct. 8, but substitutions and withdrawals can be done until Nov. 15. Last-minute changes are possible.