The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has confirmed that former President Rodrigo Duterte can still be proclaimed as mayor of Davao City, even while in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
COMELEC spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said there is no legal impediment to Duterte’s proclamation, explaining that the act is ceremonial and does not require the candidate’s physical presence.
“As long as there is no court or commission order suspending the proclamation, the winning candidate must be proclaimed,” Laudiangco said.
Duterte, who won the Davao mayoral race by a landslide based on partial and unofficial results, remains in ICC custody over pending international cases. His proclamation, however, remains valid under Philippine election laws.
Laudiangco added that COMELEC has not received any formal order barring Duterte’s proclamation. He emphasized that the commission would proceed in accordance with established rules unless directed otherwise by a competent authority.
While the proclamation may go forward, Laudiangco clarified that the assumption of duties will fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The DILG will be responsible for handling the actual turnover and assumption process.
The announcement comes amid growing public interest in how Duterte’s return to local politics will unfold under the shadow of international legal proceedings.
