Philippines Duterte seeks Senate seat, avoids battle with daughter

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Philippine Senator Christopher "Bong" Go gather outside the Commission on Elections after he filed his certificate of candidacy for president for the 2022 national election, in Manila, Philippines, November 13, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte backed away from political retirement on Monday to launch a late bid for a senate seat, avoiding a clash with his own daughter for the vice-presidency just hours before a 2022 election deadline.

Despite last-ditch efforts by supporters to convince her to succeed her father, Sara Duterte-Carpio is set to contest the vice presidency and her father a seat in the senate, two of the most powerful posts in a country where they have built considerable political clout in the past six years.