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MANILA - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is poised to become an "important national figure", former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.

Arroyo noted that the children of presidents like her and Duterte-Carpio "have played a prominent role in national political life."

"I am one example. Noynoy Aquino is another example. The children of President Estrada are very active in national political life. Mar Roxas is also a descendant of a president," Arroyo told ABS-CBN News' RG Cruz.

"Judging by history, really, I think that Mayor Sara Duterte will become an important national figure."

The mayor is "a rising star", added Arroyo, borrowing the words of Senator Ping Lacson.

Duterte-Carpio had figured in a spat with Arroyo's predecessor, Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, giving rise to speculations that the mayor backed the change of leadership in the House.

The mayor had congratulated Arroyo for being elected House Speaker, but kept mum on the power shift.

• A Tale of Two Speakers: The Hows and Whys of Speakers Arroyo and Alvarez

Arroyo also denied that she rallied other congressmen to elect her as the country's first female Speaker.