Sara Duterte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sara Duterte
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Official portrait, 2022
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| 15th Vice President of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2022 |
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| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Leni Robredo |
| 53rd Secretary of Education | |
| In office June 30, 2022 – July 19, 2024 |
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| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Leonor Briones |
| Succeeded by | Sonny Angara |
| 21st Mayor of Davao City | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 |
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| Vice Mayor |
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| Preceded by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Succeeded by | Sebastian Duterte |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013 |
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| Vice Mayor | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Succeeded by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Vice Mayor of Davao City | |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010 |
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| Mayor | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Luis Bonguyan |
| Succeeded by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Co-Vice Chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict | |
| In office May 10, 2023 – July 19, 2024 Serving with Eduardo Año
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| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Chairperson of Lakas–CMD | |
| In office November 17, 2021 – May 19, 2023 |
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| President | Martin Romualdez |
| Preceded by | Bong Revilla |
| Succeeded by | Bong Revilla |
| Chairperson of Hugpong ng Pagbabago | |
| Assumed office February 23, 2018 |
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| President | Claude Bautista |
| President of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization | |
| In office February 8, 2023 – July 19, 2024 |
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| Vice President | Romaizah Salleh |
| Preceded by | Chan Chun Sing |
| Succeeded by | Sonny Angara |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sara Zimmerman Duterte
May 31, 1978 Davao City, Philippines |
| Political party | HNP (2018–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Mans Carpio
(m. 2007) |
| Relations | Duterte family |
| Children | 4 |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Philippines |
| Branch/service | Philippine Army |
| Years of service | 2009–present (PAR) |
| Rank | Colonel |
Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio (born May 31, 1978), often called Inday Sara, is a Filipino lawyer and politician. She is currently the 15th vice president of the Philippines. She is the third woman to hold this position and the youngest vice president in Philippine history. Before becoming Vice President, she served as the mayor of Davao City from 2016 to 2022, and earlier from 2010 to 2013. She was also Davao City's vice mayor from 2007 to 2010. Sara Duterte is the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, who was the 16th president of the Philippines.
Duterte first studied at San Pedro College, hoping to become a doctor. She later studied law at San Beda College and then at San Sebastian College – Recoletos. She became Davao City's vice mayor in 2007. In 2010, she was elected mayor, becoming the city's first female and youngest mayor. After a short break from politics, she returned in 2016 and was reelected mayor in 2019. During her time as mayor, she started programs like Byaheng DO30 and Peace 911. She also led the city's efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Sara Duterte ran for vice president with Bongbong Marcos as her running mate. They won the election by a large number of votes. She officially became Vice President on June 30, 2022. As Vice President, she also served as the Secretary of Education and as vice chairperson of an anti-insurgency task force. She resigned from both roles on July 19, 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sara Zimmerman Duterte was born in Davao City on May 31, 1978. Her parents are Rodrigo Duterte, who later became president, and Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Duterte studied at San Pedro College and earned a degree in Respiratory Therapy in 1999. She had originally wanted to become a pediatrician. She then pursued a law degree, graduating from San Sebastian College – Recoletos in May 2005. In the same year, she passed the Philippine Bar Examination, becoming a lawyer.
Vice Mayor of Davao City (2007–2010)
Sara Duterte was elected vice mayor of Davao City in 2007. She served alongside her father, Rodrigo Duterte, who was the mayor at the time. During her term, she started a project called 'Inday para sa Barangay'. This program brought government services directly to different communities in the city each year.
First Term as Mayor of Davao City (2010–2013)
In 2010, Sara Duterte was elected mayor of Davao City. She made history as the city's first female mayor and also its youngest, at 32 years old. She took over the position her father had held for many years.
During her first term, she was also part of the National Executive Board of the League of Cities Philippines. In December 2010, she was appointed Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region XI. She was the first woman to lead this council. Under her leadership, the Davao Region's economy grew significantly.
City Promotion Efforts
As mayor, Duterte worked to promote Davao City as a great place for tourism and business. She introduced the slogan "Davao: Life Is Here" in 2011 to help market the city.
Break from Politics (2013–2016)
Duterte chose not to run for reelection as mayor in 2013. She also declined an offer from her father to run for a seat in Congress. During this time, she focused on her legal career and other activities.
Second and Third Term as Mayor of Davao City (2016–2022)
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Sara Duterte ran for mayor of Davao City again in 2016 and won, succeeding her father for the second time. Her brother, Sebastian Duterte, later served as her vice mayor.
In her first year back as mayor, the 2016 Davao City bombing happened on September 2, 2016. She was reelected in the 2019 elections.
After her father became president in 2016, Duterte started the "Tapang at Malasakit" (Courage and Compassion) movement in October 2017. This group was made up of her father's supporters and allies.
In February 2018, she launched a new regional political party called Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). This party was approved in July 2018 and supported candidates from different parties in the 2019 senatorial election. Nine out of 13 candidates supported by HNP won.
Key Programs
During her second time as mayor, Duterte started Byaheng DO30. This program included 30 projects focused on ten important areas like education, health, and peace and order. She also created the Peace 911 program to help address local conflicts by bringing government services to remote areas. Her administration also set up the Kean Gabriel Hotline for reporting child abuse anonymously.
As mayor, Sara Duterte was very popular, with a high approval rating in surveys.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Davao City in early 2020, Duterte quickly formed a city task force. She put in place measures to control the spread of the virus, such as canceling events and restricting travel. The city government provided food packs to residents affected by the restrictions. They also set up COVID-19 testing centers and isolation facilities. Her administration also managed the city's vaccination program when it began in 2021.
2022 Vice Presidential Election
Many political experts saw Sara Duterte as a potential future leader. On July 7, 2021, the People's Reform Party (PRP) announced their support for her if she decided to run for president. She later said she was open to the idea. However, she initially decided not to run for a national position, instead filing for reelection as mayor of Davao City.
On November 9, she withdrew her candidacy for mayor. Two days later, she joined the Lakas–CMD political party. On November 13, she officially filed her candidacy for Vice President of the Philippines under Lakas–CMD for the 2022 Philippine vice presidential election. She became the running mate of former senator Bongbong Marcos, and their alliance was called UniTeam.
Duterte won the vice presidential election with a large number of votes. She became the first vice president from Davao City and the youngest to hold the position at 44 years old. She was also the third woman to be vice president. She and Marcos were the first presidential ticket to win together since the 2004 elections.
Vice Presidency (2022–Present)
| Vice presidential styles of Sara Duterte |
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| Reference style | Her Excellency, The Honorable |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Alternative style | Madame Vice President |
Before her inauguration, President Marcos announced that Duterte would also serve as the Secretary of Education. She was inaugurated in Davao City on June 19, 2022, and officially began her term as Vice President on June 30.
Programs and Policies
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On her first day as Vice President, Duterte opened satellite offices for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in several cities across the Philippines. The main office was also moved to a location closer to the Department of Education headquarters.
In August 2022, the OVP launched the Libreng Sakay Program (Free Rides Program), offering free bus rides to help ease traffic during busy hours. In October 2022, the OVP, along with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, started the "Kalusugan Food Trucks" project to help address malnutrition among school children.
In March 2023, Duterte launched the "Mag Negosyo Ta 'Day" program. This program aims to support women, LGBTQIA+ members, and other groups by helping them start and grow small businesses. In May 2023, she started the “PagbaBAGo: A Million Learners and Trees” program, distributing school supplies and dental kits while also planting trees.
The OVP has provided significant medical and burial assistance to many people. Its Libreng Sakay Program has served hundreds of thousands of commuters. The OVP's Disaster Operations Center has also conducted many relief operations, helping families affected by disasters.
Foreign Visits
Duterte has represented the Philippines on several international trips. In September 2022, she visited Japan for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She also met with Japanese officials and visited an elementary school.
In June 2023, she visited Brunei and Singapore as the president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization. She met with leaders and discussed cooperation in education and other areas. In September 2023, she visited South Korea to speak at an education summit and discuss learning advancements. In February 2024, she visited Malaysia and met with education officials there.
Secretary of Education (2022–2024)
As the Secretary of Education, Sara Duterte was in charge of bringing back full face-to-face classes in schools after the COVID-19 pandemic. She issued an order allowing schools to choose between in-person or blended learning until October 2022, after which mandatory in-person classes began in November. She also made school uniforms and student vaccination optional.
In November 2022, Duterte created the Learner Rights and Protection Office (LRPO) under the Department of Education (DepEd) to protect children and address child abuse. In January 2023, she presented the Basic Education Report (BER) 2023, outlining challenges and plans for basic education. She was also elected President of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in February 2023.
To help teachers focus on teaching, she signed an order in March 2023 preventing them from doing volunteer work during school hours. In July 2023, she signed an order for a National Learning Recovery Program to improve students' reading and math skills.
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In August 2023, DepEd launched a new, simpler version of the K–12 curriculum called the "Matatag curriculum". This new curriculum reduces the number of learning areas and focuses on Filipino identity. It is being implemented in phases from 2024 to 2028. The Matatag Agenda was approved by President Marcos as the national policy for basic education.
In September 2023, Duterte announced that teachers would have a 30-day break without volunteer work. DepEd also worked to improve digital learning in schools, providing satellite internet and mobile computer labs.
On January 25, 2024, Duterte delivered her second BER. The next day, she signed an order to remove administrative tasks from teachers' workloads, allowing them to focus more on teaching. This was further supported by an order in April limiting teachers' work hours to eight hours a day, with six hours for teaching.
On June 19, 2024, Sara Duterte resigned as Secretary of Education and from her role as co-vice chairperson of the anti-insurgency task force. Senator Sonny Angara took over her position as Education Secretary.
Political Developments
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In May 2023, Duterte resigned from the Lakas–CMD party, stating that her leadership "cannot be poisoned by political toxicity." This happened after a political ally, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was demoted in the House of Representatives.
Her relationship with the House of Representatives became strained when questions were raised about the use of certain funds by her office and the education department. The House later removed her request for these funds from the 2024 budget.
In early 2024, Duterte stated that she was facing efforts to damage her reputation. Amid growing political differences between the Marcos and Duterte families, she resigned from her cabinet positions in June 2024.
Duterte did not attend President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2024. Soon after, some police officers assigned to her security were reassigned, which she called "political harassment."
In August 2024, Duterte publicly criticized the Marcos government on various issues. During budget hearings for the OVP's 2025 budget, she declined to answer questions about her office's budget, leading to delays in its approval.
In September 2024, during a House inquiry into her office's funds, Duterte refused to take an oath or answer questions. She also stated that she and President Marcos were never friends, only running mates. Marcos later said he felt "deceived" about their supposed friendship. In October 2024, Duterte held a press conference, further discussing her disagreements with Marcos.
In November 2024, investigations into her office's funds continued. Some of her staff were held for not attending hearings.
Impeachment Proceedings
On February 5, 2025, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Sara Duterte. This means she faced formal charges, including concerns about her spending of funds and other allegations. She became the first sitting vice president in Philippine history to be impeached.
Her impeachment trial is expected to take place after the midterm election in May 2025.
Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte
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On March 11, 2025, Sara's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in Manila due to legal issues. Sara Duterte stated that her father's detention was "an insult to every Filipino." She then traveled to Amsterdam to support her father. She later announced that she would not return to the Philippines for a while to focus on forming her father's legal team. She returned to the Philippines in April 2025.
Political Views
Moro Conflict
After a clash in 2015 that resulted in the deaths of police officers, Duterte showed her support for the fallen officers on social media.
Communist Conflict
Duterte is against government peace talks with communist groups in the Philippines. She has warned that these groups are not sincere in reaching a settlement.
Foreign Issues
Duterte has generally not made strong public statements about the dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. She usually refers questions on this matter to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense.
Personal Life
Sara Duterte is married to Manases "Mans" Carpio. They married on October 27, 2007. They have four children. Manases is a lawyer.
Duterte enjoys Korean dramas. She has also hosted television programs like Una Ka BAI and Byaheng DO30 on a local TV station.
During her break from politics, she worked as a lawyer. She is also a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of colonel.
In October 2015, to encourage her father to run for president, she shaved her head. In March 2022, she publicly stated that she identifies as part of the LGBT community, with her gender expression being male.
In September 2022, there were discussions about her use of a presidential helicopter for personal trips. The Philippine Air Force clarified that the Vice President is allowed to use helicopters for official duties.
On June 12, 2024, a scar on her neck was noticed, which she later said was from an attempted knife attack.
See also
In Spanish: Sara Duterte para niños
- Hoya indaysarae, a plant species named after her
