VICE President Sara Duterte on Sunday said that the only woman who could claim to have been married to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Speaking at the “Free Duterte Now” event in Melbourne on June 22, Duterte said that since her parents’ separation, her father never remarried and had only been in relationships with women she referred to as “girlfriends.”
“Sabi ko sa kasamahan ko, sabi ko: Alam mo, talino talaga ‘tong si President Duterte. Hindi siya nag-asawa ulit. No’ng sila ay naghiwalay ng nanay ko, hindi na siya nag-asawa ulit,” she said.
“And therefore ngayon, wala sa kanila ang makapagsabi na siya ang puwedeng pagmamay-ari kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Dahil lahat sila ay pare-parehong girlfriend lang,” she added.
Her remarks came amid renewed speculation on the former president’s current relationships, including rumors linking him to Cagayan de Oro Councilor Joyleen “Girlie” Balaba.