MANILA — Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is set to take over as Davao City’s acting mayor following the detention of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, Netherlands, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed.
Comelec chair George Garcia said that under the rule of succession provided in the Local Government Code, Baste Duterte is next in line to temporarily assume the post of mayor while the incumbent is legally unable to discharge his duties.
“Yes, by operation of the law,” Garcia explained. “‘Yung mag-assume ng position will be assuming in an acting capacity unless maging permanent incapacity.”
Section 46 of the Local Government Code outlines that local chief executives who are temporarily incapacitated — whether due to travel, legal restrictions, or suspension — will have their vice officials automatically step in as acting leaders. However, the acting mayor cannot exercise the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees unless the mayor’s incapacity exceeds 30 days.
Former President Duterte, who returned to local politics and won as mayor of Davao City in the May 2025 midterm elections with 662,630 votes, was reportedly taken into custody abroad amid mounting international legal scrutiny.
Garcia also emphasized that, as of the assumption of office at 12 noon on June 30, local officials fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Basta naproklama na at wala namang case sa amin na naka-pending, ang jurisdiction ay wala na sa amin,” Garcia said. “Basta walang kaso sa amin, walang naka-pending, wala kaming naging desisyon, naproklama, kaagad ang jurisdiction ay malilipat sa DILG.”
He added: “Lalo na pagdating ng June 30. So kung sino ngayon ang uupo, sino papaupuin, ano nangyari sa kandidato, yan ay call na ng DILG.”
Duterte’s legal situation in The Hague remains under intense international attention, while Davao City prepares for a leadership transition that could shape the political future of the Duterte family once more./PN
