DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and four other Dutertes, along with the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Party candidates, emerged victorious in this year’s midterm elections here.
They were proclaimed winners by the Board of Canvassers on Tuesday, May 13.
Former President Duterte secured a decisive victory in the mayoral race despite his detention at The Hague in the Netherlands, marking a return to the post he held for over two decades before ascending to the presidency in 2016. He has now been mayor for 34 of the last 36 years.
Official records obtained from the Commission on Elections-Davao City said former President Duterte garnered 662,630 total votes.
His opponent, former Cabinet Secretary and lawyer Karlo Alexei Nograles, earned only 80,852 votes.
The former Chief Executive’s victory marks his fourth term as a mayor, having served from 1988-1998, 2001-2010, and 2013-2016. It is also his first elected position since stepping down from the presidency in 2022.
Further cementing the family’s hold on local power, the elder Duterte’s youngest son, incumbent Mayor Sebastian Duterte, secured victory in the vice mayoral race with 651,356 votes, defeating former Vice Mayor Bernie Al-ag, who only had 78,893 votes.
Rep. Paolo Duterte remains in his post in the first congressional district, earning 203,557 votes, while his rival, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Margarita Ignacia “Migs” Nograles, only gathered 49,186 votes.
Mayor Duterte and Rep. Duterte did not arrive during the proclamation of winners aside from their father.
Omar Vincent Duterte, eldest son of Rep. Duterte, brought an end to the Garcia family’s 33-year hold in the second congressional district of the city,currently under the leadership of Rep. Vincent Garcia of the Lakas-CMD and the Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
Omar received 160,432 total votes, while his rival, Javi Garcia Campos, had 90,156 votes.
Third congressional district Rep. Isidro Ungab remains in his post after earning 178,721 votes. His opponent, Nonoy Al-ag, got 30,687 votes.
In an interview before the proclamation, Omar said he is prepared to serve and represent the second district. Grateful for all the support he received from his voters, he assured them he will do his best to serve them.
“Thank you very much for your support. I’m more than ready to serve all of you. Indeed, no one can buy Davao City. We’ve upheld our integrity and principles and proven that Davaoeños are not for sale,” Omar said in a local dialect.
Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, second son of Rep. Duterte and namesake of the Duterte patriarch, secured a seat in the first district as councilor with the highest vote of 192,324. He might serve as acting vice mayor while Baste will serve as acting mayor in the absence of the elder Duterte.
In a separate interview, Rigo echoed his brother. He assured that he would never disappoint the people of the first district and Davao City. He said he and the other seven councilors for the first district are ready to serve everyone, especially those in need.
Rigo bared that Rep. Duterte advised him and Omar to do their best in their respective fields of work, bearing in mind the trust given by the people of Davao to them. He added that their father reminded them not to bring shame to the people.
All eight councilors in the city’s three congressional districts came from the HTL, completing the party’s dominance inside the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
No Marcos–supported candidate managed to secure a seat in Davao City. (Ivy Tejano)
