Mr Rodrigo Duterte’s initial appearance before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, March 14, 2025. ICC  

DAVAO CITY — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp is studying how he can take his oath of office while in detention overseas should he win the mayoralty race in their bailiwick Davao City.

“‘Yun ay pinag-uusapan namin ng kaniyang ICC lawyer at ng kaniyang Philippine lawyer kung paano siya maka-oath as winner ng mayor contest dito sa Davao City,” said Vice President Duterte on Monday, just hours after polling precincts opened in the Philippines.

The Duterte patriarch has been in the International Criminal Court’s detention facility since mid-March, after he was arrested and flown to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity in connection with the thousands of extrajudicial killings that marred his administration’s drug war.

“Sabi ng lawyer sa ICC, once we get proclamation papers, pag-uusapan namin ulit kung paano makapag oath si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte,” she said.

“We have until the day after the proclamation, until noon of June 30 para siya maka-oath,” she added.

Before the Philippines 2025 midterm elections, Duterte’s lawyers asked the Commission on Elections if the former president could cast his vote abroad even if he is not registered as an overseas absentee voter in this year’s elections, the Vice President said.

“Ang pagkakaintindi ko, sinubukan ng lawyers niya na magpaalam sa Comelec na kung puwedeng bumoto si Dating Pangulong Duterte outside of the absentee voting law kasi yun lang yung paraan na puwede siynag magboto kaya lang hindi siya naka-register doon,” she said.

“Unfortunately, wala siya. Hindi niya na-exercise yung right to vote niya this time and I’m sure he is sad about that,” she said.

The 80-year-old Duterte is competing against his former Cabinet Secretary, Karlo Nograles, for Davao’s mayoralty race.

Nograles said that he remains to “hope for the best outcome in Davao City,” adding that the “results of the election will obviously be the final determining factor.”

“Every election is different because iba-iba yung candidates, iba iba yung atmosphere,” he told reporters in a chance interview after casting his vote.

“Ang importante, may choice ang mga tao, may choice ang ating mga kababayan. Karapatan makapagpili sila. ‘Yun naman ang essence ng democracy,” he said.

Davao City bet Karlo Nograles casts vote for Halalan 2025

Nograles urged candidates in Davao City to disengage from politicking after the elections to prioritize the welfare of Davaoeños.

“In other words, tapos na ang politics. Serbisyo na ang next ani. Going back to service, going back to serving the people,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we need to lead Dabawenyos, to lead the city in a manner that you are serving the public na walang pili, walang color. Sinuman ang binoto, dapat tulungan ang mga nangangailangan ng tulong,” he said.

The vice mayoralty race in Davao City this year is crucial as the winner will be deemed as the city’s acting mayor should the Duterte patriarch be proclaimed as the new city mayor.

Duterte’s son and incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte is competing against Nograles’ running-mate, former Vice Mayor Bernie Al-ag.

"A day after the illegal arrest of PRRD, the Comelec released a statement that PRRD is not disqualified. So from there, we should just wait for the result. That’s the best thing to do, and then let’s see what Comelec will do next," the younger Duterte said. 

(Murag a day after sa illegal arrest ni PRRD, nag-release man og statement ang Comelec nga dili disqualified si PRRD. So from there hulaton nalang sa nato ang resulta, kana ma’y pinakanindot unya tan-awon nato unsa na pud ang buhaton sa Comelec.)