Duterte to remain Davao City mayoral bet unless he withdraws —Comelec

Former President Rodrigo Duterte will remain a candidate for Davao City mayor in Eleksyon 2025 despite being arrested for crimes against humanity, according to an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“He is still a candidate,” Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday.

“The only way you stop being a candidate is if you withdraw. Considering you are convicted, unless it is a conviction by final judgment, you’re still in the roll as a candidate,” he added.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. late Tuesday night faced the media and announced that Duterte was being brought to The Hague in the Netherlands to face charges in connection with the killings in the past administration's war on drugs.

The plane carrying Duterte arrived in Dubai for a layover at around 8:03 a.m. Wednesday (Manila time).

Asked if Duterte will be allowed to campaign while overseas, Maceda answered: “Yes, and the votes cast in his favor will not be considered stray. He is still a candidate.” 

Comelec stand

In a separate interview, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia affirmed Maceda’s remarks and said Duterte’s name will remain in the ballot.

“As far as the Comelec is concerned, siya pa rin hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay kandidato, ang pangalan niya ay nasa balota, at maiboboto ng kababayan natin. Tignan natin kung may magfafile ng something or whatever,” Garcia said.

(As far as the Comelec is concerned, he is still a candidate and his name remains in the ballot.)

According to Garcia, the poll body will address petitions that will be filed against the former president’s candidacy. He said an accused may still run, or win an election as long as there is no final conviction or judgement on their case. 

“Ang ating batas ay nagsasabing kailangang may final judgment of conviction. Hindi natin pa masasabi sa kasalukuyan kung ang conviction na binabanggit ay conviction dito o dito ay dapat na conviction na dapat sa abroad,” he added. 

(Our law states there should be a final judgment of conviction. We still don’t know if that is a conviction here or abroad.)

Duterte was a longtime mayor of Davao City before he ran and won the presidency in 2016. He formalized his intention to return as mayor when he filed his certificate of candidacy in October 2024. — with a report from Sundy Locus/VAL/RF, GMA Integrated News

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