Rodrigo Duterte currently detained at The Hague; Possible upcoming mayor election bid in his hometown next week.

In the pulsating heart of the southern Philippine city, Davao, the political scene is ablaze as campaigns for the mayoral election heat up. Amidst the throng, one absence has stood out – the self-exiled former Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte. He's currently ensconced in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, charged with crimes against humanity in connection to his ferocious war on drug dealers, which left potentially thousands dead, many of them innocent bystanders.

Shielded from local Philippine court rulings, Duterte remains eligible to run for the post of mayor of Davao, a city he has ruled, on and off, for two decades. Under the country's election laws, only a criminal conviction in a local court can bar a candidate from contesting.

With his enduring popularity in Davao, Duterte could well emerge victorious on election day. Many credit his iron-fisted rule for taming lawlessness, transforming the city from a perilous place to a safer haven.

"I grew up here all my life, and when I was younger, it was very dangerous, with killings and fighting everywhere," shared Ian Baldoza, 46, a native of Davao who remains a steadfast Duterte supporter. "But as I grew older, I started to understand that those who were killed were drug addicts, dealers, and troublemakers."

Baldoza acknowledged witnessing neighbors gunned down during Duterte's drug war but maintains a robust presence on social media in support of the politician. "We're not looking for a saint, we're looking for a leader with political will, and the Duterte family has that, especially in the patriarch," he said defiantly.

Despite his ICC arrest, Duterte's continued cageyness on the political stage has sent ripples among voters. Political scientist and head of polling firm WR Numero, Cleve Arguelles, explained, "His ICC arrest doesn't really shake their core of who Duterte is but rather, paradoxically, it only reinforces what Duterte stands for."

Locally, more than 3,000 posts, ranging from district councilors to lawmakers, are up for grabs in the midterm elections across the Philippines. The Duterte clan is once again in the fray, with three generations vying for power. His son Sebastian, the incumbent Davao mayor, will be his father's running mate; his other son, Paolo, is seeking re-election to the national congress; and two of Paolo's sons are running for local council seats.

However, cracks in the Duterte family have started to emerge. Vice President Sara Duterte faces numerous corruption allegations, while her brother, Paolo, found himself embroiled in a high-profile nightclub brawl, prompting a complaint from a businessman.

If Rodrigo Duterte wins the mayoral election, he stands a chance to be sworn in by proxy or via virtual means, should the ICC grant permission. However, if he is unable to attend the swearing-in, the runner-up, projected to be Karlo Nograles, would assume the office.

Paradoxically, Rodrigo Duterte's ICC arrest, despite allegations of crimes against humanity, might strengthen his support among voters in Davao, where he emerged from a war on drug dealers.
The self-exiled former Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, who is ensconced in The Hague, is eligible to run for mayor of Davao, despite ongoing ICC charges.
Balancing the general news of war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and sports, sports-betting, the ongoing political scene in Davao remains a hot topic, with the mayoral election heating up.
In the Bailiwick of Davao, the political landscape is intertwined with the city's transformation from a perilous place to a safer haven, with theł General Election shaping up to be a decisive test for current politicians and Duterte-backed candidates.
Amid the election frenzy, the Duterte family wields significant influence, with three generations vying for power across various posts in the midterm elections, including Mayor Rodrigo Duterte himself.
Despite the controversies surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte and her brother, Paolo, the Duterte clan's political dynasty continues to be a formidable force in Philippine policy-and-legislation, with possible implications for the city's future.