MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has formalized his bid as mayor of Davao City in next year’s elections, ending months of speculation on whether he will attempt to re-enter politics after the end of his presidency in 2022.
The former president filed his certificate of candidacy for Davao City mayor at the Commission on Elections in Davao City on Monday, October 7.
Meanwhile, his son, Sebastian Duterte, filed his COC to run as city vice mayor. If elected, the 79-year-old will be expected to serve a three-year term as mayor until 2028.
Earlier this year, Vice President Sara Duterte announced that the elder Duterte and her two brothers were gunning for a Senate post in the 2025 midterm elections.
The former president had denied his daughter’s statement, telling reporters: “Hindi na ako babalik ng politika. Tapos na po ako. Laos na ako. Wala na akong panggastos. Wala na lahat. Ang naiwan sa akin siguro yabang. (I will not return to politics. My time is over. I do not have money or anything else. What I have left is perhaps aroggance.)”
On Monday, all three Duterte’s — the elder Duterte and his two sons, Sebastian and Paolo — now appear to have ruled out a bid for the Senate. Paolo also filed his COC for re-election as Davao City representative on the same day.
The Marcos and Duterte families and their allies have been publicly at odds since 2023 after Congress rejected the vice president’s request for confidential and intelligence funds, on top of apparent disagreements over Marcos’ approach to China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Earlier this year, the elder Duterte publicly feuded with Marcos, calling him lazy and accusing him of abusing illegal substances. In retaliation, the president accused his predecessor of being hooked on fentanyl.
Duterte’s son, Sebastian, the current mayor of Davao City, had called on Marcos to resign over his flawed foreign policy that supposedly favors the United States, saying this “endangers the lives of innocent Filipinos.”
The rift between the Dutertes and the Marcoses deepened earlier this year amid speculation that the president has allowed prosecutors from the International Criminal Court to openly conduct their probe on Duterte’s war on drugs in the country.
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