“The coming days could be fraught with challenges that require us to be more united as a nation,” she said in an inaugural speech in her hometown of Davao, where she took the oath of office alongside her parents.
Duterte-Carpio, 44, was the running mate of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also won the May 9 election and will be sworn in as the country’s president on June 30, when his six-year term begins.
Marcos, the son and namesake of the disgraced dictator who was ousted from power in a 1986 uprising, also attended the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by relatives, allies and supporters of Duterte-Carpio.
Both achieved landslide victories with staggering margins not seen in decades, forging a crucial alliance and betting on a message of unity that also helped many allies win seats in the legislature and local government positions.
Like her father, Duterte-Carpio trained as a lawyer before entering politics in 2007 when she was elected her father’s vice mayor in Davao, 1,000 kilometers from the capital Manila.
Originally she wanted to be a doctor, but then pursued her political career and succeeded her father as the first female mayor of Davao in 2010.
“As we all take a moment to listen to the call to service and choose to heed the call…I believe the country will be steered toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability and progress,” said Duterte-Carpio, who will also serve as Marcos’ education secretary.