FORMER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD) is in high spirits following the results of the May 12, 2025 national and local elections, according to his younger brother Benjamin “Bong” Duterte, who visited him at the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention center in The Hague, Netherlands.
Bong made a public address to supporters and media on May 14, emphasizing that the re-elected leader was glad with the overwhelming support in Davao City and that he is very happy and thankful knowing the Dabawenyos have not abandoned him despite the alleged charges pressed against him.
Despite being detained over charges related to his war on drugs, Duterte won by a landslide in his bid to return as mayor of Davao City, a post he held for more than 20 years before becoming president in 2016.
The Commission on Elections-Davao Region (Comelec-Davao) and the Davao City Board of Canvassers officially proclaimed Duterte as the mayor-elect of the city after he garnered 662,630 votes, significantly defeating his opponent, lawyer Karlo Nograles, who received only 80,852 votes.
His son, incumbent City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, won the vice mayoralty with 651,356 votes, defeating Bernie Al-ag who earned 78,893 votes.
In the congressional races, the Duterte family secured a full sweep. First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte was re-elected with 203,557 votes against Migs Nograles’ 49,186. In the Second District, Buhangin Barangay Captain Omar Vincent Duterte won with 160,432 votes, toppling City Councilor Javi Garcia, who received 90,156. Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, FPRRD’s grandson, also ranked first in the First District council race.
With this, the Duterte family’s electoral sweep in Davao signals their continued political dominance, even as legal challenges confront the former president on the international stage.
Bong also relayed that their political allies performed strongly on the national level. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, the former president’s longtime personal aide, topped the unofficial and partial senatorial race with over 26 million votes.
Bong added that several figures who had previously opposed Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte were defeated in the elections.
“I told him there were twists in the senatorial race, but overall, I reassured him not to worry because I believe the support remains with Vice President Sara,” Bong said.
Rodrigo Duterte, 80, was arrested by the ICC on March 11. He is currently detained while facing charges of crimes against humanity related to the drug war that defined his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
His legal team had petitioned for him to vote in the 2025 elections, but the Philippine government denied the request, citing that he had not registered as an overseas absentee voter during the required period between December 2022 and September 2024.
With Duterte’s election as mayor, questions have arisen regarding the city’s leadership in his absence.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) must decide whether his situation constitutes a temporary or permanent vacancy.
If temporary, Baste will serve as acting mayor until his father assumes office. If permanent, Baste will officially become mayor, and the councilor with the highest number of votes, likely Rodrigo Duterte II, would assume the role of vice mayor.
