Screengrab from City Government of Davao

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia has confirmed that Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will temporarily assume the role of mayor in Davao City. This follows the legal complications surrounding his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was elected to the post but is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

According to Chairman Garcia, although the elder Duterte was elected as mayor, he has not been able to take his oath of office or formally assume the position due to his present situation. In this case, Garcia explained, the appropriate term to use is “mayor-elect”, as the former president remains officially elected but is unable to discharge the duties of the office.

“Perhaps the best way to describe it is ‘mayor-elect’—he remains the mayor-elect because he was not able to assume office. Under Section 39 of our Local Government Code, this falls under ’temporary incapacity,’ not permanent,” Garcia explained. “This means that whoever steps in will do so only in an acting capacity, unless the situation changes to permanent incapacity.”

For now, Baste Duterte, who previously held the same office, will serve as acting mayor. His assumption of the post ensures that the operations of the local government in Davao City will continue without disruption while legal proceedings concerning his father unfold abroad.

The situation is unprecedented in recent Philippine political history and raises questions about how long the temporary setup may last and what the long-term implications might be for both the city’s governance and the Duterte political legacy.