The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has officially filed to run for mayor of Davao City, his home city in the south. Despite his controversial anti-drugs campaign, which is under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court, the 79-year-old Duterte expressed his desire to serve the people once again.
Duterte, the father of Vice-President Sara Duterte, plans to run alongside his son, Sebastian Duterte, the current mayor of Davao City. He aims to make Davao a better place for its residents.
Many view Duterte’s decision to run as a strategic move to support his daughter Sara, who is speculated to run for president in 2028. Davao has been a stronghold for the Duterte family, where Rodrigo served as mayor for two decades before his presidency.
During his presidency, Duterte initiated a controversial drug war that resulted in the deaths of thousands. While the government claims over 6,000 casualties, human rights groups argue that the actual number is much higher, including extrajudicial killings.