Mon May 19 09:50:00 UTC 2025: **Duterte Dynasty Persists: Former President Set to Win Davao Mayoral Race From ICC Detention Amidst Political Turmoil**
**The Hague/Davao City, Philippines** – Despite being detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is poised to win the mayoral election in his stronghold of Davao City. Preliminary results indicate that Duterte has secured over 65% of the vote, signaling the enduring influence of the Duterte political dynasty in the Philippines.
The election outcomes also point towards a strong showing for the Duterte family in the Senate race, with five candidates backed by the family currently leading. This comes as a significant boost for Vice President Sara Duterte, Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, who is facing impeachment proceedings in the Senate scheduled for July. Her fate hangs in the balance, requiring the support of at least nine senators to avoid removal from office and a ban on future elections.
These midterm elections saw Filipinos cast their votes for 12 Senate seats, all 317 seats in the House of Representatives, and thousands of local positions. While President Marcos Jr.’s allies are expected to secure six Senate seats, Duterte’s supporters, including Christopher “Bong” Go, are projected to win five, highlighting the continued division in the Philippine political landscape.
Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and flown to the ICC at The Hague on March 11 by the Marcos Jr administration. The elder Duterte was accused of “crimes against humanity” for the estimated deaths of 30,000 people during his tenures as mayor and president.
If Duterte wins the mayoral race, the position is likely to be assumed by the current Vice Mayor, his son Sebastian Duterte. Philippine law allows candidates facing criminal charges to run for office unless convicted.
The current political climate is fraught with tension, stemming from a fractured alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families. This rift intensified following Marcos Jr.’s rejection of Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs” and the subsequent arrest of Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte’s spiritual advisor, on sex trafficking charges. The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte on a warrant issued by the ICC further inflamed tension between the two political dynasties.
Sara Duterte’s impeachment, initiated in February on allegations ranging from misuse of public funds to plotting Marcos’s assassination, has further deepened the political divide. She claims the impeachment is a politically motivated vendetta.
The official election results are expected within the week. The outcome of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will have profound implications for the future of Philippine politics, particularly her prospects in the 2028 presidential election.
First Piper 