Photo Credit : Sara Duterte Social Media Account
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been elected mayor of Davao City in the 2025 midterm elections, while currently in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
With over 80 percent of precincts reporting, Duterte received more than 405,000 votes, ahead of his closest rival, former Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who received approximately 62,000 votes. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed that Duterte remains eligible to hold public office as he has not been convicted of any crime.
Duterte, who served as mayor of Davao City for more than 20 years prior to becoming president in 2016, was arrested in March 2025 on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s anti-drug campaign. He remains in custody at the ICC pending legal proceedings.
Plans for Duterte’s swearing-in as mayor have not yet been finalized. According to his legal representatives, discussions are ongoing to address the procedural implications of his detention.
His son, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who served as Davao City mayor before the 2025 elections, ran for and won the vice mayoral post. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is currently the subject of an impeachment trial in the House of Representatives.
The outcome of the 2025 Senate elections may influence proceedings related to the vice president, as members of the Senate are tasked with presiding over impeachment trials in the Philippines.
No official statement has yet been issued by the ICC regarding Duterte’s assumption of office.
