That the winners in all elective positions in Davao City are 100 percent of the Dutertes running for elective positions and their endorsed candidates is one fact beyond arguing.
But what is this report we have read in a column published in one national papers, and posted in social media that in the provinces and other cities in the Davao Region the winning candidates are those endorsed or aligned with the Marcos, Jr.-led Alyansa sa Pagbabago ng Pilipinas?
Say, in Davao del Norte, closest among the allies of the Dutertes in that province lost to a candidate identified with the Marcos administration. Yes, according to the report Pantaleon Alvarez, former House Speaker during the early years of the administration of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, sorely lost to the candidate of the administration.
In Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, as well as in Davao de Oro, Duterte endorsees also lost their bids.
The results in the Davao Region, except Davao City, is surprisingly in contrast to the results in several provinces and cities in other geographic areas in Mindanao and the Visayas. One example is the outcome of the Cebu gubernatorial polls where Marcos ally incumbent Gov. Gwen Garcia lost dismally to a relatively less known Duterte-aligned candidate Pam Baricuatro.
How come in the supposedly Duterte bailiwick Southern Mindanao all their bets ended up losing in their bid?
Were the electorate in those provinces and cities disobedient to the Davaoeno leader, or it just happened that those running under the banner of the party headed by the former President did not meet the standards for leaders the people in those places set for their officials?
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We were right all along in our prediction that then candidate Rigo Duterte will top the winners in the race for City Councilors in the first district of Davao City. And as consequence of his toping the race there is big possibility that he will be appointed to assume the position of Vice Mayor if Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will be acting mayor of the City. His father will unlikely be unable to take his oath and assume office as the new mayor of the city.
The former President who was overwhelmingly elected mayor in the May 12, 2025 midterm election is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) jail in The Hague, Netherlands.
And once Baste moves up, Rigo II, if he meets all the requirements of the rules of succession for such kind of situation, will probably assume the office to be vacated by his uncle.
For now, the people of Davao City will just have to wait for the action that the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) pertinent to the prevailing issue. What is certain however is, a Duterte-Duterte running both the executive and legislative departments of Davao City is not anymore new. This had happened before with the father sitting as mayor and the daughter as Vice Mayor. Then they traded positions years later.
But as to how long will the Baste-Rigo II tandem reign stay the people of Davao City have still no idea. However, as to our personal take on that question is, for as long as not any of the Dutertes will commit a major blunder in their governance the Duterte-Duterte reign will likely be there for a long time.
For now a new possible political phenomenon to alter a Duterte rule in Davao City is far from sight.
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After the election of local officials in 2022 we had been advocating for the crafting of a more meaningful and very doable city ordinance to address a major environmental problem that has been plaguing the city for the longest time.
We are referring to the emission of very disturbing odor in the communities where there are existing poultry and hog farms. And it is not only the obnoxious odor but the sudden invasion of droves of flies every after harvest of chicken from the poultry farms, and hogs from piggeries.
Our suggestion is very simple – for poultry and swine farm managements to put up some kind of a bio-fence in the perimeter of the farm compounds so that when the trees that will serve as the bio-fence grow these will block the odor as tree leaves are known to absorb carbon dioxide. At the same time these will serve as natural barriers for flies from the farms to invade the surrounding communities.
If a bio-fence will be made a compulsory requirement for permit acquisition or renewal thereof, then residents of nearby communities will be saved from the perils of diseases caused by germs borne by these dirty insects.
Unfortunately, no one from the incumbent city dads picked up our idea. The possibility is they do not see how much such little idea could help in protecting the city’s environment and subsequently the health of the people.
