Outgoing Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte may have to assume the mayorship anew if his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, will be unable to take his oath as winner in the 2025 midterm elections.

This is because Sebastian, who won vice mayor, will have to move up by virtue of the law of succession, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“In the event nga kay kung dili maka-oath pa si Mayor-elect President Duterte, automatic law of succession, Section 46 Temporary Vacancy. Ang vacancies and succession, naa na sya sa Section 44 of the Local Government Code. Naa na didto tanan. Once nga dili maka-oath si Mayor-elect FPRRD, the vice mayor will be the acting mayor,” DILG-Davao City Director, Vicky Sarcena, said.

The father and son won overwhelmingly in the midterm polls. The former President defeated his closest rival Karlo Nograles in the mayoral race with 662,630 votes while Baste defeated his top contender Bernie Al-Ag in the vice mayoral race with 651,356 votes.

Meanwhile, Councilor-elect Rigo Duterte, who garnered the most number of votes among winning councilors, will serve as acting vice mayor.

Sarcena clarified that arrangements for the oathtaking ceremony are the responsibility of the elected officials themselves, including selecting who will administer their oaths. The DILG will simply attend as an observer.

“Sa oathtaking sila ang mag-arrange, sila ang mag-invite og kinsa ang ilahang mag-administer sa ilang oathtaking. Tapos ang DILG, invited lang to observe and witness sa ilahang activity sa ilahang oathtaking,” Sarcena added.

VP’s MESSAGE TO RELATIVES

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte reminded her nephews, Councilor-elect Rigo Duterte and Congressman-elect Omar Duterte, of their role in improving the lives of Davaoeños.

“Sinabihan ko sila that you are there to make lives, the lives of Davaoeños better. So sinabihan ko sila na ang gusto lang naman nating lahat ay a livable city. At hindi mahirap yun kasi ang isang livable city, meron nang ano iyon eh, mayroon na siyang parameters. Papasok lang natin ‘yung Davao City,” the vice president said.

The vice president, herself a former mayor of Davao City, said the city has enough money to implement projects and programs.

“I think more than enough ang budget sa Davao City nato para magpadagan ang mga proyekto, mga programa din sa ato ang siyudad. In fact, when I was mayor, dili ko nagpangayo og projects sa congressman man or sa senator. Ang DPWH, ginapasagdan nako sila kung sa ilahang mga proyekto,” she said.

The vice president said that while she was mayor, Davao City was named the eighth richest city in the Philippines, was declared insurgency-free, and paid its debts off fully.