Amid Duterte’s Detention, Comelec Says He Remains Candidate for Mayor
COMELEC – The Commission on Elections spoke on the candidacy of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for mayor in Davao City.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is running for mayor of Davao City. Prior to winning the presidency, he has served Davao for several years as their mayor. When he won as president, his daughter, now Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, won the mayoralty position.
Currently, the Davao City Mayor is Baste Duterte, the youngest son of former Pres. Duterte with his ex-wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Mayor Baste is the running mate of his father in the upcoming May 2025 Elections. However, before the elections, unexpected turn of events took place.
A week ago, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was arrested by the authorities of the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the release of an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court. The ICC arrest warrant is over the allegations of crimes against humanity for the Duterte drug war.
Duterte was detained at the Villamor Air Base for several hours. The day ended with the former President being “forced” to board a plane to Dubai en route for the Netherlands where he will face the accusation at the Hague. Currently, he is detained at the ICC detention center abroad and made an initial appearance before the pre-trial chamber of the court last Friday.
The next phase of the pre-trial of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is set in September which is still 6 months away. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Comelec assured that he remains a candidate for mayor in the upcoming 2025 Elections.
The Commission on Election also gave details on what will happen if former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte wins mayor of Davao City in the upcoming election. Based on a report on GMA News, Comelec chairman George Garcia told Super Radyo dzBB that the name of Duterte remains in the election ballot unless he is convicted by the court.
“Ang pangalan niya maiboboto kung sakaling walang development mula ngayong hanggang araw ng election at kung manalo, siya’y mapoproklama,” Garcia said.
The Comelec Chairman also said that the candidates can be proclaimed even if they cannot personally attend the proclamation ceremony of the election winners. Based on the report, if former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte wins mayor, it will be up to the interior department on whether to make a temporary or permanent vacancy on his position.
Recently, the son of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, gave a message for Pres. Bongbong Marcos before the people of Davao.