Shekinah Jedidiah Alima

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has announced on October 5 evening that he intends to run for Davao City mayor again, with his youngest son, Sebastian, to step down and run for vice mayor.

Photo Courtesy of Rep. Paolo Duterte/VERA Files.

The incumbent mayor of Davao, Sebastian "Basti" Duterte will accompany his father's political comeback in the 2025 midterm polls as confirmed by the ex-president during a press conference.

Duterte stated that the public should just wait for him to submit his certificate of candidacy (COC) in the remaining days for filing.

According to Duterte, he will not run for a national post and make a senate bid with his physical body's limitations due to his age.

“You think that I can carry a national campaign at my age or you want me to die? Mag co-collapse na ako n’yan,” he reiterated to reporters.

Senator Robin Padilla encouraged Duterte to join the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Senate slate prior to the ex-president's press conference.

"Mas matindi ang wisdom. Ang kailangan natin sa leader natin 'yung wisdom, at nakita naman natin na 'yung wisdom ni pangulong Duterte nu'ng pandemic - nalagpasan natin 'yung pandemic," Padilla said.

Duterte served as Davao mayor for 22 years from 1988 to 2016, where he won the presidential elections against Manuel "Mar" Roxas.

Current Davao City Mayor Sebastian has been serving since 2022, and previously held the vice mayor post in 2019.