DILG Speaks on Victory of Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in Davao Mayoralty Race
RODRIGO DUTERTE – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stressed that the former President has to be physically present in office to fulfill his duties as Davao mayor.
Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands under the custody of the International Criminal Court. The former President is facing an allegation of crimes against humanity before the ICC. The confirmation of charges against him is set on September 23.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is even set to return to The Hague amid his impeachment trial proceedings in the Philippines to visit the former President again. She was the one who immediately flew to The Netherlands following her father’s arrest to set his ICC legal team.
Despite his detention in The Hague, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte won mayor in Davao City. He has served the Davaoeños for several years before he became president. His youngest son, outgoing Davao Mayor Baste Duterte, won as his vice mayor. They were running mates in the 2025 Elections.
Following the landslide victory of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in the 2025 mayoralty race in Davao, the phrase “Work from Hague” went trending on social media. However, based on a report on Inquirer, there will be no work from Hague for the former President.
Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Jonvic Remulla clarified that former Pres. Duterte has to be in office to fulfill his duties as the mayor of Davao City. Otherwise, his son who was elected as vice mayor, Baste Duterte, has to step in.
Based on the report, under the Local Government Code, the vice mayor will have to perform the duties of the mayor and exercise his/her powers in case the mayor is unable to perform due to physical and legal reasons. The Interior department clarified that they recognize the victory of the former President in the 2025 Elections.
“We recognize the victory of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He was proclaimed by the Comelec (Commission on Elections) a day after the elections [with an] overwhelming mandate, so we recognize him as the mayor,” Remulla expressed.
According to Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla, he will ask the permission of the ICC if the Philippine consul can visit him at the detention facility so he can take his oath. He stressed that Duterte has to take his oath to assume office.
Previously, the Duterte family held a meeting as they prepared for the thanksgiving following their multiple wins in the 2025 Elections. Aside from former Pres. Duterte and outgoing Davao Mayor Baste Duterte winning as Davao mayor and vice mayor, respectively, Davao First District Congressman Paolo Duterte was also reelected. His sons, Omar and Rigo, also won as Davao City Second District Congressman and Davao City Councilor, respectively.