The Philippine government will request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow detained former President Rodrigo Duterte to take his oath of office as Davao City mayor, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Monday. Duterte won by a landslide with 662,630 votes, defeating his closest rival, former Civil Service Commission chair Karlo Nograles, who received 80,852 votes. Other candidates included Bishop Rod Cubos, Jonathan Julaine, and Joselito Ran. Remulla stated that the government recognizes Duterte’s electoral victory and will formally ask the ICC to permit a consul to administer his oath. However, since Duterte must be physically present to perform mayoral duties, Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, his youngest son and the incumbent mayor, will assume leadership. Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the “war on drugs” during his presidency and tenure as mayor. The Dutertes have held the mayoralty for 34 years, with the patriarch serving 22 years, his daughter Sara for nine, and Sebastian for three. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
