Manila, Philippines
Reuters
–
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has almost certainly been elected mayor of his hometown by landslide on Monday, not being hampered by International Criminal Court detention on charges of murder as a crime against humanity.
Duterte, who brought to the Hague over his bloody “drug war” that killed thousands of people in March, has won the Davao Mayor’s Contest with eight times the votes of his closest rival.
The national midterm election victory is a testament to the 80-year-old’s lasting influence in a southern city due to his reputation as a criminal assault that won him the nicknames “Duterte Harry” and “Punisher.”
Duterte’s old Facebook account is flooded with congratulatory messages from supporters, with some people hoping to serve his people.
Read one of the comments: “Congratulations, Tatay (father) D! Let’s take him home.”
Duterte could be the first former Asian head of state to be tried by the ICC.
His shocking arrest by the Philippine police at the request of the ICC sparked outrage among the army of his supporters, which he called an invitation at the request of a foreign court.
He defends anti-drug crackdown and his legal team says his arrest is illegal. The ICC argues that Duterte has jurisdiction to prosecute crimes suspected of being committed before retracting the Philippines from the establishment treaty in 2019.
Despite the ICC lawsuit, it also includes alleged murder of a suspected criminal by a “death squad” in Davao while Duterte was mayor.
The former president’s two sons are also scheduled to win the post on Monday, with one being re-elected and the other winning the Vice Mayor Davao contest, likely serving in his father’s absence.
The political resilience and control of the family in Davao could prove crucial as Vice President Sara Duterte, a popular daughter of Duterte, faces a verdict, killing the hope of running in the president, and seeing it banned for life.
Asked about her father’s potential victory on Monday, she said a plan would be made for him to be sworn as mayor.
“The ICC lawyer said that once he receives the declaration paper, he will discuss how he can make a vow,” she said.
