Vice President Sara Duterte and the lawyers of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, are studying how he can take his oath as the new mayor of Davao City from his detention cell at The Hague, Netherlands.

The former president won another term as Davao City mayor following his landslide victory against rival Karlo Nograles. Duterte garnered 662,630 votes against Nograles’ 80,852 votes. 

Duterte said her father’s lawyers are discussing how he can take his oath as Davao City mayor by noon on 30 June. After that date, the election rules may result in Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte taking over.

Remote guidance

The VP raised the likelihood that her father may have to be an “absentee mayor.” 

Former president Duterte, facing a crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), won his bid for mayor of Davao City, the family’s stronghold, despite not having campaigned.

“Well, definitely, yes, because he is not here yet,” said VP Duterte about her father conducting city affairs from a distance.

“We discussed with his ICC and Philippine lawyers how he can take the oath as mayor of Davao City. We were talking about it the other day,” the Vice President added.

Duterte said her father’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, will discuss the specifics of his service as mayor after his proclamation.