DAVAO City Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has taken over as acting president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) following Senator Robin Padilla’s decision to go on official leave from the party’s top post.
Baste’s assumption of PDP Laban leadership is in accordance with the party’s constitution, which mandates that the executive vice president shall succeed the president in an acting capacity during a temporary vacancy.
The announcement was made Monday, June 16, 2025, by party officials, who confirmed that Padilla had formally requested time off to focus on his legislative responsibilities in the upcoming 20th Congress.
In a letter addressed to PDP Laban vice chairman Alfonso Cusi, Padilla explained that his decision to take a leave was motivated by his desire to concentrate on crafting and advancing priority legislation aligned with the party's core advocacies, particularly in the areas of federalism, national defense, and social justice.
“Layunin ko pong ituon ang aking atensyon sa aking tungkulin bilang senador, lalo na sa paghahanda sa pagbubukas ng 20th Congress,” Padilla stated. He emphasized that his active role in campaigning for PDP Laban candidates during the May 2025 midterm elections required significant time and energy, leaving him with little room to manage party affairs at the national level.
Padilla had been a visible figure throughout the campaign period, endorsing party bets and speaking at various sorties across the country. Under his leadership, PDP Laban supported several local and national candidates, including those aligned with the administration and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s political bloc.
Meanwhile, the 36-year-old son of former President Duterte previously served as Davao City mayor from 2022 to 2025 and won his vice mayoral bid in the recent elections. He also serves as PDP Laban’s executive vice president, a position that places him next in line for the presidency based on internal party rules.
As acting party head, Baste is expected to preside over upcoming party meetings and realign strategies as PDP Laban positions itself ahead of the 2028 national elections. Party insiders said his leadership is seen as a move to maintain the Duterte family's strong influence within PDP Laban amid ongoing realignments in the country’s political landscape.
Despite stepping aside, Padilla assured party members of his unwavering commitment to PDP Laban and reiterated his loyalty to former President Duterte, who remains the party’s chairman.
The transition comes at a critical time as PDP Laban recalibrates its political positioning after the May 2025 elections, where it retained a notable presence in both local and congressional races. DEF