The eldest daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte, is running for the country's vice-presidency in the May 2022 elections, the Election Commission said on Saturday.
Ms. Duterte thus puts an end to intense speculation that she was going to try to succeed her father as president.
These conjectures had been fueled by the sudden withdrawal, a few days ago, of his candidacy for a new mandate for mayor of Davao (south), and by his rallying to the political party of his ally and former president Gloria Arroyo.
Read alsoPhilippines: Duterte announces his withdrawal from political life after the presidential election, paving the way for his daughter
Sara Duterte, 43, has always been at the top of polls on voters' preferences for the next presidential election.
In the Philippines, the president and vice-president are elected separately.
Rodrigo Duterte became infamous for his war on drugs which has claimed thousands of lives and is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court.
The constitution prohibits Mr. Duterte from running for a new six-year term.
Among the already declared presidential candidates are the sons and namesake of ex-dictator Ferdinand Marcos, superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao and the mayor of Manila Francisco Domagoso.
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