The daughter of the leader of the Philippines is running for vice president – and looks set to compete against her father for the job.

Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, will run alongside presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the country’s former dictator.

Her confirmation follows months of speculation about a potential bid, and after she decided this week not to run for re-election as mayor of Davao.

Marcos Jr’s party named her as his running mate for the May 2022 election on Saturday – the same day President Rodrigo Duterte’s aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go threw his hat in the ring for the top job.

A father-daughter head-to-head for vice president now looks increasingly likely.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Duterte had gone back on his earlier decision not to go for the job, meaning he’ll run against his daughter – a lawyer and mother of three.

“That is his plan, we don’t know if that is going to change,” Mr Andanar told the Reuters news agency.

Nobel Peace Prize: Who are this year’s winners, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov?

Nobel Peace Prize: Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win for championing press freedom

Rodrigo Duterte to retire from politics despite earlier plan to run for Philippines vice president

Human rights groups are worried about the Marcos-Duterte partnership as President Duterte has led a brutal crackdown in his ‘war on drugs’.

The campaign has left thousands dead, including claims of extra-judicial killings that are being investigated by the International Criminal Court.

The long reign of Marcos Jr’s father, who was overthrown in 1986, was also marked by atrocities and economic plunder.

Renato Reyes of Bayan, a prominent left-wing coalition, called it “the biggest threat to the democratic aspirations of the people”.

“It has the most self-serving aims: a Marcos restoration and the protection of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.

Political analyst Edmund Tayao said the joining of two families could be a “game changer”.

“Both of them are very popular. It is easy to assume they are the team to beat,” he said.

The Philippines‘ controversial president, who has cultivated a strongman image – once saying he would shoot drug dealers himself – is stepping down due to a six-year limit.

Other hopefuls as leader of the nation of 110 million include boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso and vice president Leni Robredo.

Related posts:

New picture released of Perseverance rover moments before touchdown on Mars Former Nazi guard, 95, deported from US to Germany over ‘acts of persecution’ UK sanctions four Chinese officials over Uighur human rights abuses Israelis vote in fourth election in two years as PM hopes vaccine success will keep him in power At least 15 people killed and 400 unaccounted for after fire in Rohingya refugee camp Girl, 7, reported shot dead in brutal crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar Egypt’s Suez Canal blocked by large shipping container which ran aground Belgium dump holders Portugal out of Euro 2020 – after Czech Republic stun Netherlands World champions France knocked out of Euro 2020 by Switzerland Mexico’s methane leak rate ‘alarming and worrying’ for climate change, report warns Army restructure sees hundreds of British tanks and troops return to Germany British woman wins appeal to overturn conviction for lying about Cyprus gang rape