Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has filed his candidacy for mayor of Davao City, marking his return to politics after stepping down from the presidency in 2022, Bloomberg reports.
The news was confirmed by Senator Bong Go, a close aide to the former president. Duterte’s son, incumbent Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte, also filed his candidacy for vice-mayor, according to GMA News.
Earlier reports suggested that both Rodrigo and Sebastian were considering running for Senate seats. However, they have opted for local positions instead.
The Duterte clan’s political maneuver comes amidst tensions with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Their alliance has fractured due to differing views on foreign policy, particularly regarding relations with China, and constitutional reforms.
The former president is facing scrutiny from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Philippine Congress for his controversial war on drugs. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is also facing impeachment threats.
With the filing deadline for the 2025 midterm elections approaching, candidates have until Tuesday to withdraw or make substitutions to their candidacies.
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