DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 23 January) – Acting Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte and Acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” S. Duterte II finally took their oath of office as Mayor and Vice Mayor, respectively, before Regional Trial Court (RTC) XI Deputy Executive Judge Marie Estrellita S.
Tolentino-Rojas at the City Hall of Davao on Friday.
Sebastian succeeded his father Rodrigo, who was elected for an 8th term as mayor of Davao City in May 2025 but whose seat was declared permanently vacant effective November 13, 2025 for failing to take his oath of office within six months from his May 13 proclamation as winner by the Commission on Elections.
Rodrigo was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport upon arrival from HongKong on March 11, 2025 and was flown that night to The Hague where he remains detained to face charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.
Rigo, councilor of the first district who topped the council race from among the city’s three districts, succeeded Sebastian as Vice Mayor.
Members of the Duterte family and their allies, including Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab and lawyer Martin Delgra, attended the oath-taking. Also present was Mika Chan, director of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Davao City.
Sebastian and Rigo had assumed the positions of mayor and vice mayor in an acting capacity on June 30.
Section 44 of the Local Government Code provides the rule on succession in case of a permanent vacancy in the office of the mayor or vice mayor, stating that the vice mayor shall assume the mayoralty while the highest‑ranking member of the Sanggunian shall become the vice mayor.
Section 11 of the Omnibus Election Code establishes a six‑month window from proclamation within which an elected official must take his oath of office. Otherwise, the position shall be declared permanently vacant.
In October, MindaNews asked the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) central office on the status of Rodrigo Duterte’s mayoralty post by November 13. In the DILG’s reply on November 6, Romeo Benitez, Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs, said: “In light of FPRRD’s failure to take his oath of office within six months, his office shall be considered vacant. Having failed to qualify, a permanent vacancy ensues in his office calling for the assumption of the Vice Mayor as the new LCE (Local Chief Executive) and the highest ranking Sanggunian Member as Vice Mayor, pursuant to Section 44 of the Local Government Code.”
In a press release, Rigo thanked the Dabawenyos for supporting the Duterte family and vowed to continue serving the people of Davao with “integrity and responsibility.”
The Duterte family is the most influential political dynasty in Davao, having held various local elective posts for nearly 40 years. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
