Duterte candidates 2025: Jailed in The Hague, still running for Davao Mayor
Duterte candidates 2025, despite being locked in a detention cell at The Hague over charges linked to his brutal drug war, former President Rodrigo Duterte is officially on the ballot for Davao City mayor, a race he is widely expected to win. While awaiting trial overseas, his name is still drawing crowds, emotions, and motorcades back home. The 2025 Philippine midterm elections now carry more than just political weight, they test loyalty, legacy, and the limits of law and democracy.
Duterte candidates 2025, the 80-year-old former president, who once ruled the Philippines with an iron fist, was arrested in March by order of the International Criminal Court. The charges? Crimes against humanity tied to thousands of deaths during his administration’s anti-drug campaign. But in Davao, the city he led for over two decades, his image remains larger than life. Green and red banners still wave in support, fist-raising rallies continue, and campaign jingles echo across neighborhoods.
Duterte candidates 2025 candidacy from behind bars comes at a crucial moment. Over 18,000 posts are up for grabs this election season, including key Senate and congressional seats. But in the southern city of Davao, all eyes are on the mayoral race, and the name Duterte still packs power. His loyal base sees him as a protector who cleaned up the city, no matter the cost. To them, his arrest is political, not criminal.
“We cried. We could not sleep for three days,” said Joel Valles, a local eatery owner. They vowed to vote even if he’s not around.
Technically, if Duterte wins but cannot assume office due to his detention, the vice mayor will take over. That position, conveniently, is being contested by his youngest son, Sebastian Duterte, signaling a calculated move to keep power within the family.
Meanwhile, the Duterte dynasty faces fierce national challenges. Sara Duterte, the former president’s daughter and current vice president, is also fighting for political survival as she braces for an impeachment trial over serious accusations, including allegedly plotting against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Analysts believe this election will gauge how much power the Dutertes still hold outside of their home turf. “Duterte would then continue to have power from which to launch his attacks against the Marcos administration,” said Jean Franco, political analyst from the University of the Philippines.
The rivalry between the Dutertes and the Marcoses, once seen as an unbeatable alliance, has now turned into a public power struggle. The outcome of the 2025 elections could shape not just the city hall in Davao but also the road to the 2028 presidency.
As the motorcade rolls through the city, Duterte candidates 2025, filled with honking cars and cheering supporters, one thing is clear: for many in Davao, Duterte isn’t a criminal, he’s still their mayor. The Duterte candidates 2025 push forward, these elections could mark either the resurgence or the downfall of one of the country’s most controversial political families. Regardless of the outcome, the former president’s name remains central in the debate about justice, legacy, and the future of leadership in the Philippines.
Image: Rebecca Ratcliffe
