The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) plans to formally request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to permit former President Rodrigo Duterte to take his oath of office as Davao City mayor—even while in detention in The Hague.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed on Monday that the DILG recognizes Duterte’s landslide victory in the May 2025 midterm elections. “Siya ang dineklara ng Comelec na mayor. Na-proclaim siya the day after elections. Overwhelming mandate,” Remulla said in a GMA News Online report.
Duterte, who was arrested in March on ICC-issued warrants over allegations of crimes against humanity tied to his controversial drug war, is currently imprisoned at the Scheveningen Prison in the Netherlands.
Remulla said he will coordinate with the ICC to allow a Philippine consul to administer Duterte’s oath while in custody. “Magpapaalam ako sa ICC kung puwede pumunta ang consul natin para makapag-oath siya,” he explained.
However, with Duterte unable to physically serve, his son and vice mayor-elect, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, is expected to temporarily assume the mayoral functions. “In his incapacity na hindi niya kayang magsilbi, ang vice mayor muna ang uupo doon,” Remulla said.
