Duterte's Continued Political Influence: Wins in Davao Despite Detention

Family Dominance and Shifting Political Sands in the Philippines

In a striking demonstration of enduring political power, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte secured a resounding victory in the mayoral race of Davao, his home city. This outcome, as revealed by official results, occurred despite his detention by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Davao election board declared Duterte the victor, with the official count revealing a remarkable tally of over 660,000 votes, dwarfing his closest competitor. Celebratory chants of "Duterte, Duterte" erupted from jubilant supporters upon the announcement of the results.

His youngest son, Sebastian, the current mayor of Davao, was elected vice mayor. Additionally, his eldest son, Paolo, secured re-election to the Philippine House of Representatives, and two grandsons achieved wins in local elections, underlining the family's consistent and pervasive influence.

Partial unofficial results also indicated that at least five candidates backed by the Duterte family were leading in the race for 12 Senate positions, exceeding pre-election survey expectations.

These outcomes are seen as a boost for Duterte’s daughter, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly in light of an upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate, slated for July. The trial addresses charges including alleged misuse of public funds. If convicted, she would be removed from office and barred from holding future public positions. Acquittal requires a minimum of nine favorable votes from the 24 senators.

The Senate race results, expected within a week, show a mix of candidates, including those endorsed by Marcos and opposition figures.

While the Senate results are encouraging for Sara Duterte, the impeachment trial's ultimate outcome remains uncertain, according to Jean Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines. If substantial evidence emerges against her, her chances of acquittal could be diminished.

The unofficial Senate results also suggest a potential waning of support for Marcos, which could introduce unexpected shifts in the 2028 elections, Franco noted.

Marcos expressed his gratitude to Filipino voters, stating, “Our democracy has renewed itself — peacefully, orderly and with dignity.” He added, “We may not have won every seat, but our work and mission continue.”

The developments concerning Rodrigo Duterte's detention by the ICC, linked to his brutal war on illegal drugs, follow the unraveling relationship between Marcos and Sara Duterte, a consequence of differing political perspectives and ambition.

Duterte's supporters have criticized the government's actions regarding the former president's detention by a court whose authority they contest.

Rodrigo Duterte, known as "the Punisher" and "Dirty Harry," served as Davao's mayor for two decades before assuming the presidency. He has been in ICC custody in The Hague since March, pending trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to his drug war, which resulted in thousands of deaths.

Under Philippine law, candidates facing criminal charges can still run for office unless they have been convicted and exhausted all legal avenues.