DAVAO City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and First District Councilor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II have officially assumed their new roles as acting mayor and acting vice mayor, respectively, following the absence of Mayor-elect and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD), who remains in detention at The Hague.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through a letter dated June 30, directed Baste to perform the duties of city mayor to ensure continuity of local government operations. Citing Section 46(a) of the Local Government Code, the agency clarified that the appointment is both legal and necessary, given the temporary incapacity of FPRRD to assume office.
Under the same succession framework, the DILG also named Councilor Rigo Duterte, the top vote-getter in the 2025 elections with 119,324 votes, as acting vice mayor.
On Tuesday, July 1, Rigo formally presided over the first regular session of the 21st City Council at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, marking his first day as acting vice mayor.
In his remarks, Rigo expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and acknowledged the responsibilities ahead.
"The road ahead may not always be smooth, but with the cooperation of the City Council and the unwavering support of our fellow Dabawenyos, I am confident we can continue building a promising future for Davao City," he said.
Duterte also called for collective commitment to transparency and good governance, recalling the city’s legacy of strength and resilience.
"We are people of strength, resilience, and unity, and it is these qualities that have propelled us forward through challenges and successes alike," he said.
In a media interview, Rigo Duterte admitted he was nervous presiding over the City Council’s session, but said the support of fellow councilors and family helped him get through it.
“Syempre, nakulbaan ko, pero daghan man mutabang sa akoa, daghan nagsuporta (Of course, I was nervous, but many people helped and supported me),” he said.
Although appointed as acting vice mayor, Rigo said he remains hopeful that his grandfather, former President Rodrigo Duterte, will be able to return to the Philippines and assume his elected post as mayor of Davao City.
He also vowed to do his best as vice mayor, saying he wants to ensure that the trust and votes given to him and his family by the Dabawenyos will not go to waste.
Among his top priorities are strengthening peace and order and improving the city’s healthcare system, education, and housing for residents.
His designation as acting vice mayor was made official by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Secretary Jonvic Remulla, by Administrative Order No. 15, s. 2018, which governs temporary appointments to vacant local elective positions.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the DILG emphasized that the move is “legal and necessary” to ensure continuity of leadership amid ongoing legal proceedings involving FPRRD, who was proclaimed mayor-elect of Davao City on March 13, 2025.
Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has also been designated as acting mayor during this period.
Rigo Duterte was the top-performing city councilor in the 2025 National and Local Elections, receiving 119,324 votes, the highest among candidates across all three districts.
FPRRD is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s war on drugs. RGP