THE year 2022 was a challenging yet historical milestone for the political landscape, not only in Davao Region but for the entire country.
The Covid-19 pandemic did not stop Filipinos from exercising their right to suffrage. Thus, a new chapter not only for the local political scene but for the entire Dabawenyos.
Pres. Digong out, VP Sara in
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, the country's 16th president, had finished the remaining six months, still addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, and reopening the economy.
Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte, had already accepted her supporter's call to run for the national post through the vice presidency. Thus, she had withdrawn her candidacy for a third term as Davao City Mayor.
Sara, running under Hugpong ng Pagbabago and Lakas-CMD, formed an alliance with former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whose father Ferdinand Sr. served as president of the country for 20 years.
The "BBM-Sara" tandem, known under the brand UniTeam scored a landslide victory in the 2022 elections.
Duterte, until Election Day, only rallied behind his daughter.
Nonetheless, both Marcos and Duterte won the elections. The former was proclaimed as the country's 17th President while the latter was declared as the 15th Vice President in the country.
Marcos garnered 31,629,783 votes, while Duterte garnered 32,208,417 votes in the May 2022 national elections.
Sara, who served as city mayor for three non-consecutive terms (2010-2013; 2016-2022), had her historical oathtaking in the city on June 19, more than two weeks before formally succeeding Leni Robredo in the position on June 30.
Duterte, meanwhile, had returned to the city to enjoy his retirement. A special homecoming was staged on the day he stooped down, still on June 30.
The former President has since then been spotted roaming around the city.
In an event, Duterte vowed to support the Marcos administration, but won't hesitate to criticize any discrepancies.
Baste steps in
Sebastian “Baste” Duterte made history as the 35th mayor of Davao City, making him the third Duterte to head the city.
The youngest child of Duterte to ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman, debuted in the local political arena when he ran and won unopposed in the 2019 midterm elections as vice mayor.
On November 9, 2021, Sebastian decided to withdraw his re-election bid. He named J. Melchor Quitain Jr., Davao City's First District and son of former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus Melchor Quitain, as his substitute for vice mayor. He then ran for mayor as a substitute for his sister Sara, who would later run for vice president.
He later won in a landslide victory and assumed office on June 30, 2022.
Duterte's 12-point agenda under his administration for the next three years include poverty alleviation; infrastructure development; sustainable environment; health; education and human resource development; agriculture and agribusiness; business and industrial support development; transportation planning and traffic management; peace and order; disaster risk reduction and mitigation; good governance through innovative information and communication technology (ICT); and tourism and development and support services.
However, his administration faced challenges in the few months he assumed the post. He was the subject of criticism from netizens after he posted online a message from a private citizen complaining about the widespread water interruption.
Nearly two weeks after the controversial exchange of words on social media, the mayor and the netizen had already apologized to one another.
Partido Reporma switches support from Ping to Leni
Davao del Norte Representative and Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma (Partido Reporma) president Pantaleon Alvarez switched their endorsement from then-Senator Ping Lacson to former Vice President Leni Robredo for president in the 2022 elections.
Alvarez said Robredo’s ideals and platforms are aligned with the aims of Partido Reporma, which is “to reform government and provide a better future for Filipinos.”
As a result, Lacson resigned from his post as chairman of Partido Reporma on March 24 and announced that he will be running for the presidency as an independent candidate.
Robredo, who was running as an independent, was in Digos City, Davao del Sur for a grand rally when the party announced the news.
Two weeks later, a grand rally was staged in Tagum City, Davao del Norte where the former vice president personally thanked her Dabawenyo supporters for their support despite the region being known as an ally of the Dutertes.
Robredo lost to Marcos, while Alvarez scored another term.
Women rule in Davao
The 2022 local elections were a milestone for women leaders, particularly in the chief executive positions of respective local governors.
Yvonne Cagas and Dorothy Gonzaga are first-time, governor-elect of Davao del Sur and Davao de Oro, respectively, while the presumptive governor of Davao Oriental Corazon Malanyaon is the province’s incumbent first district representative.
Montejo-Gonzaga is the second governor of Davao de Oro, since the province was renamed in 2019.
She formerly served as judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 4 in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, and an associate justice of the Court of Appeals (CA) --- appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. RGL
On the other hand, Malanyaon is not new to the world of politics and public service. She served as a governor of Davao Oriental from 2007 to 2016 and the province’s first district representative from 2001 to 2007 and from 2019 to 2022. RGL