DAVAO CITY: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte spends his days in a small, spartan room in detention at the Hague, awaiting trial for a bloody war on drugs that killed thousands during his time in office.
But halfway around the world, in his hometown of Davao City, Duterte is on the ticket for mayor in midterm elections on Monday that he is widely expected to win, riding on support in the family stronghold, though it may not translate nationwide.
“I’ve seen what he accomplished as both mayor and president, from his fight against drug lords to what he did for the country,” said Jennifer Maumbas, 28, a worker in a small cafe that displayed Duterte’s visage on a banner.
“No matter what happens, we’re solidly for Duterte.”
Duterte’s arrest in March, following a request by the International Criminal Court, was a major blow to his powerful family, whose popularity surged after he swept to power in 2016 from his position as a maverick, crime-busting mayor.
As president, the tough-talking Duterte upended Philippine foreign policy and launched a “war on drugs” that rights groups say killed significantly more than a police estimate of 6,000, for which he is being tried in the Netherlands.
Yet his influence beyond Davao is far less certain, as the polls shape as a test of how far incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has managed to subdue the Dutertes’ political machine, born in the southern city.
The Duterte name has a kind of mythic status in Davao, but perhaps less nationwide, said Ederson Tapia, a specialist in public administration at the University of Makati.
“All indications are that they still have a solid base,” he added. “Whether that’s enough to carry a serious campaign in 2028 remains to be seen – especially with the vice president now facing an impeachment complaint.”
