Manila, (EFE).- Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, currently detained in The Hague, is leading the race for mayor of Davao City, his longtime stronghold, in midterm elections held Monday.
Provisional results show Duterte, 79, with 618,398 votes, representing over 85% of the total in Davao, a city he governed for over three decades. The election is marked by rivalry between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Duterte family.
Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in Manila in March on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for the alleged “crime against humanity of murder” in connection with his controversial “war on drugs.”
While police data records about 6,000 deaths from anti-drug operations and extrajudicial killings, local NGOs estimate the death toll at 30,000.
His arrest has become a central issue in the elections, which include contests for 12 of the 24 Senate seats, the entire House of Representatives, and around 18,000 local government positions nationwide.
Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter, said her father’s legal team is exploring how he could officially take his oath of office if confirmed as mayor.
“According to his ICC lawyer, once they receive the proclamation documents, we’ll revisit the discussion on how the former President can take his oath,” she said after casting her vote.
With Duterte scheduled to face trial at the ICC in September, it remains unclear who would fulfill the mayoral role if he is unable to assume office.
Ahead of the official results expected next week, early returns indicate the Duterte dynasty’s dominance in Davao.
His son, Sebastian Duterte, is leading the race for vice mayor with 83% of the vote, while another son, Paolo, is ahead in the race for a congressional seat in one of the city’s districts. Two of Duterte’s grandchildren are also running for local posts.
The election could significantly shape the composition of the powerful Senate, and possibly the political future of Sara Duterte.
She is currently facing corruption allegations in a political trial in the Senate, which could lead to her removal from office and damage her chances of running for president in 2028. EFE
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