Shotgun Election: Duterte’s Daughter Is the Big Pick
Sara Duterte-Carpio – 42, mayor of Davao City, maybe the most popular woman in the Philippines at the moment – has announced once again that she’s the frontrunner for the 2024 presidential race in a Pulse Asia poll. Yet, she’s also floated the idea that she’ll shake her head no and try to keep her dad’s throne. You’ll have to see if she’s serious.
Where It All Starts
- Between Feb 22 and March 3, 2,400 people ranked 14 possible leaders. Sara snagged 27 % of the votes – the highest of them all.
- She’s jargoned second in a row to top the survey. That’s not easy to beat when you’re the most talked‑about politician in the country.
- Despite the headline results, she told Reuters she sees no chance of actually running next year. Her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, had previously said the same.
Who’s Behind Her?
In the weeks after the poll, the president’s social‑media fans lit up. Facebook, Twitter and countless memes started to channel around “#ShootTheWidow”. The number of unofficial campaign sites grew faster than the president’s daily selfies.
Other Heavy‑Hitters
- Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – 13 % of respondents – close second. His name alone evokes a flashback to a shaky past, yet the king‑pin’s side of the political spectrum is taking the vote.
- Grace Poe – 12 %. The former human‑rights lawyer who ran as a rival in 2016.
- Isko Moreno – 12 %. The Manila mayor whose flamboyant presence has produced endless viral clips.
- Manny Pacquiao – 11 %. A knockout in the ring who’s now pulling arms in the Senate.
- Leni Robredo – 7 %. The “queen of the opposition” who’s been the main thorn in Duterte’s calendar.
The results come with a margin of error of ±2 %, which means the differences could be as lively as a debate. None of the 14 suspects have officially thrown their hats into the ring. Politics in the Philippines can be a roller coaster—and it’s scheduled to lift off on May 9, a little over a year away.
What Could Change?
Analysts are warning that the war between “Future Mom” (the mad‑if‑you-want‑to‑succeed‑in‑the-timeline) and the rest of the ballot could intensify. Some legends say that a single twist could turn the election from a “routine sneeze” into a full‑blown “political hurricane.” Stay tuned, because a lot can shift in the next 12 months.
