Former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is seeking to return to his earlier role as mayor of Davao, his hometown.
He appears determined to win the latest mayoral race.
Duterte, who is now 80, first became Mayor of Davao City in 1988. He was re-elected twice but had to step down in 1998 due to term limits. However, he remained active in politics, securing a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives before running for mayor again.
After a hiatus due to term limits in 2010, his daughter, Sara Duterte, took over the mayoral role while he served as her vice mayor. He returned as mayor in 2013, passing the vice mayor responsibilities to his son, Paolo.
Duterte ascended to the presidency in 2016 and initiated a controversial “Drug War,” involving numerous extrajudicial killings carried out by vigilantes. He often dismissed the concerns raised by human rights activists and has not expressed remorse for his actions.
In 2016, the United Nations observer in the Philippines faced Duterte’s ire when he made a threatening remark, and Duterte has boasted about personally eliminating criminals. His return to the mayoral position has drawn both local and international attention.
Despite facing indictment from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for actions during his drug war, Davao City continues to favor Duterte. He experienced an arrest in March while in Hong Kong with his daughter, which led to a surprising detention at the ICC headquarters.
“What was my sin? I did everything in my term for my fellow Filipinos to enjoy some peace,” Duterte stated upon his arrest. He expressed acceptance of whatever might come his way following his detention.
Sara Duterte assumed the Vice Presidency in alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but that partnership faced challenges, highlighting a power struggle between their families. She even made a threatening remark towards President Marcos in February.
At the time of his arrest, Duterte announced his intention to run for mayor once more in the May 12 election. Reports suggest he still enjoys significant popularity in Davao, although his influence has waned elsewhere.
“No matter the circumstances, we firmly support Duterte, given his achievements against drug lords and in his presidency,” remarked 28-year-old Davao voter Jennifer Maunbas.
Another supporter, Joel Sagosoy Valles, mentioned the emotional distress his family felt following Duterte’s ICC arrest.
“We’ll always vote for Duterte. My belief is that support remains strong due to effective governance in Davao,” expressed Edwin Estevez, a devoted voter.
Much of Duterte’s lasting popularity stems from his supporters’ trust in his crime-fighting tactics, even though they may be harsh.
His appeal in Davao is notably linked to prominent surnames and political dynasties, mirroring tactics utilized across the Philippines. There have been attempts to prevent political family dynasties, but such efforts have yet to result in effective laws.
Conflicting statements from Philippine officials regarding Duterte’s potential appointment from custody raise questions. The Election Commission’s Chairman stated that Philippine law allows for a declaration of victory in absentia, but the implications of such a declaration remain unclear.
Furthermore, Philippine law dictates that temporary incapacity cannot exceed 30 days, and the ICC is not expected to pursue serious charges against Duterte until September, which complicates his situation.
Only criminal convictions can disqualify a candidate under Philippine law, and clarification is needed regarding whether a foreign court’s conviction, like that of the ICC, would apply.
A possible resolution could be to allow provisional release from the Hague, but whether Duterte would seek such a release remains uncertain—he frequently speaks of “accepting his destiny,” making his stance ambiguous.
