Patience Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte points to 2021 for the politically curious. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur — Days after presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said he would not be surprised if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will become the next president of the country like some of the children of former presidents who followed in their parents’ footsteps, Duterte-Carpio said decision time will be in January 2021.

Those who want to become a president, as early as now they will put me as number one on their hate list

“It depends on the circumstances. Maybe let’s make a deadline in January 2021,” Duterte-Carpio said when asked if she is open to run for president.

She reiterated her request for the public not to dwell on her political plans for now because other possible rivals might put her on their hate list.

“I already said I wish that they would not talk about me like that, since those who want to become president, as early as now they will put me as number one on their hate list,” the mayor said.

Duterte-Carpio also said that she is just helping her father “to get through the remaining three years of the administration,” emphasizing that running for president cannot be decided overnight.

“It needs money, machinery and what is important above anything else is the wisdom and guidance from God,” she said. “Because it will be hard if it’s not for you, but it will be easy if God intended it for you.”

Moreover, she clarified that Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HnP) cannot endorse her as president because it is a regional political party, explaining that they just came out of Davao region because a lot of the senatorial candidates asked for help.

“There were two presidents who called me. First of all is President (Rodrigo) Duterte. He told me to help Bong Go, Bato de la Rosa and Francis Tolentino and former President Erap (Joseph Estrada), he called me and told me to help Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito and the rest are my friends who asked for help,” she said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the President’s statement of withdrawing support to former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Duterte-Carpio said that her father has the prerogative to choose his own candidates and that Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, the President’s political party, is different from HnP.

“President Duterte and I are different individuals. So, his opinion or his thoughts are not necessarily the same as my opinion and my thoughts,” she explained.

When asked if she talked with her father recently, the President’s daughter said she was not able to, but instead Mr. Duterte sent her a Valentine’s Day cake.

“He sent me a cake last Valentine’s (Day) and I would like to tell him, ‘Thanks for the cake, but I need money,’” she ended.