City hall employees and other local government staff attend the flag-raising ceremony in front of the Davao City Hall on June 20, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte may have to be an “absentee mayor,” Vice President Sara Duterte said, adding his lawyers are already discussing the complexities of him taking his oath of office from detention in the Netherlands.

Former president Duterte, who is facing a crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court, won his election campaign for mayor of Davao City, the family’s stronghold.

Asked if her father being an absentee mayor is a possible scenario, the vice president said: “Well, definitely, yes [kasi] wala talaga siya dito.”

(Yes, definitely, because he really isn’t here)

Under the Local Government Code, a vice mayor exercises the powers and functions of a mayor in case of temporary or permanent vacancy.

Ex-President Duterte defends Davao dynasty from ICC prison

“Pinaguusapan namin ng kanyang ICC lawyer at ng kanyang Philippine lawyer kung paano siya maka-oath as a winner ng mayoral contest dito sa Davao City…pinaguusapan namin ‘yun actually, nung isang araw,” Vice President Duterte said in a video posted by former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

(We are discussing that with his ICC lawyer and his Philippine lawyer… how he can take his oath as the winner of the Davao City mayoral race. We discussed that the other day)

Duterte lawyer asks ICC presidency to disqualify judges on jurisdiction issue

She said her father’s lawyer at the ICC, Nicholas Kaufman, said they will discuss the matter further after the former president is officially proclaimed mayor-elect.

“We have until the day after proclamation—until noon of June 30 para siya [ay] maka-oath,” Vice President Duterte said.

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