Duterte camp mulls oath-taking options as detained ex-president runs for Davao mayor

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Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions from the media after she cast her votes at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School on Monday, May 12.PHOTO BY GERMELINA LACORTE

DAVAO CITY — The legal team of former President Rodrigo Duterte is considering three possible ways for him to take his oath of office if he wins the mayoral race in Davao City, despite being detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.

Vice President Sara Duterte, his daughter, said Monday that lawyers in the Philippines and at the ICC have been discussing the matter ahead of the vote canvassing and official proclamation.

“We talked the other day about three options for how he can take his oath,” the vice president told reporters after casting her vote at Daniel R.
Aguinaldo National High School. She did not elaborate on the possible options. “Once we have the proclamation papers, we will discuss how former President Rodrigo Duterte can take his oath. We have until noon of June 30,” she added.

Voting was still ongoing at the time of the statement, and official canvassing had yet to begin.

The vice president acknowledged that Davao City would effectively have an absentee mayor if her father wins, as he remains in detention in The Hague.

“Definitely yes, because he is not here,” she said when asked if the city should expect an acting mayor. “We expect the vice mayor to take over.”

The elder Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy in October last year, before the ICC issued an arrest warrant in March. He was taken into custody soon after.

He is facing a challenge from Karlo Alexei Nograles, a former Cabinet Secretary and Civil Service Commission chair who previously served as the city’s first district representative. Nograles is the son of the late House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

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