- Duterte-Duterte tandem the team to beat for mayor and vice mayor in 2025 polls
FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte made good on his word to run for mayor as he officially filed his certificate of candidacy on Monday afternoon, Oct. 7, at the Comelec office.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sebastian Duterte slid down to vice mayor in favor of his father.
The filing of their COC cemented the Duterte family’s stranglehold on local politics, a position they held ever since former President Corazon Aquino appointed Rodrigo Duterte the OIC vice mayor following the EDSA revolution, except for three years at the time of Mayor Benjamin de Guzman between 1998 and 2001.
In a brief media interview, when asked if there would be a Duterte running for senator, the former president simply replied, “Wala. Wala.”
Duterte’s arrival was highly anticipated as his advanced security team swept the area in Magsaysay Park. His arrival felt like a victory party as he walked gingerly through a gauntlet of supporters chanting “Duterte!” and “Tatay!”
The 79-year-old is expected to win a landslide victory as he is running against first-time candidates Bishop Rodolfo Cubos and social media personality Roweno “Boy Isog” Caballes.
In a separate interview, Mayor Sebastian Duterte commented about his father’s decision to run, “I’m happy because I want him to continue giving to the people. As his son and the current mayor, I believe he still has wisdom to offer. This form of governance is very rare and effective, as we’ve seen during his long service in Davao.”
“Over the past few days, there have been many changes, and this is the final decision that we believe is best,” the mayor explained. “We’ll just wait for the election. Everyone will campaign, so we’ll let the votes speak for themselves.”
He said Davaoeños are clamoring for his father to return to City Hall.
The mayor also said that they’ve already proven themselves, so people know what to expect. “You’ve seen me as mayor and vice mayor, and you’ve seen my father as mayor. I believe it will be more or less the same. We will strive to listen to what the people need and deliver for our city,” he added.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr. will run for councilor in the city, and Omar Duterte will run for congressman in the second district.
Photos by Bing Gonzales
