DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte said he does not consider himself or his political party conservative, amid concerns that there is no longer a system of checks and balances in the city after Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL) swept the local elections.
"We still went through the democratic process, ibig sabihin non, yun yung gusto ng tao, so the people may have thought that this is a healthy government that we have, so that's why ang gilagay nila, ang political party natin ang gilagay nila sa Davao City," he said during the Basta Dabawenyo podcast on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Duterte explained that the city still has left-leaning political officials and cited Congressman Alberto Ungab as an example of a progressive politician.
He added that he considers himself to be of the same caliber, reiterating that they do not view themselves as conservatives.
He said that he welcomes criticism, they listen to the people, and that as public officials, it is their duty to listen to public concern, since it is the people who elected them to do their job.
He pointed out that during the midterm elections, they faced opposition from administration-backed candidates who had access to funding and government resources. However, he said these efforts did not resonate with the Dabawenyo people as he and other Hupong allies were the ones who won during elections.
"You cannot buy governance, it has to be performed. Pag nandyan ka sa opisina [if you are there in the office], do you job, you govern and listen to the people, and make it happen," he said.
He said that the Dabawenyos are educated and that the foundation of the people comes from former President Rodrigo Duterte.
He added that their opponents cannot immediately destroy it because he and his performance are trusted by the people.
Baste said that as a son of Rodrigo Duterte, he is committed to continuing his father’s work, aspirations, and ambitions — not only for the Dabawenyos but for everyone.
Earlier, five Dutertes won positions in the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE): Rodrigo Duterte was elected mayor, Baste as vice mayor, Paolo "Pulong" Duterte as first district congressman, his son Omar as second district congressman, and his other son, Rigo, as first district councilor.
Candidates under Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL), led by the Duterte family, swept all major posts in the city including mayor, vice mayor, all three congressional seats, and the entire city council. RGP