FACT CHECK: Rodrigo Duterte did not take oath as Davao City mayor

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The former president remains in ICC detention, prompting the DILG to designate Davao City Vice Mayor Baste Duterte as the city's acting mayor

Claim: Former president Rodrigo Duterte has taken his oath as Davao City mayor.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The TikTok video containing the claim has 293,000 views, 8,052 likes, 253 shares, and 919 comments as of writing.

The video’s screenshot shows Duterte seemingly taking his oath. Caption in the video states: “Duterte oath-taking.”

Some Filipinos believed the claim, leaving comments like “Thank you, Lord. Nanumpa na ang aming mahal na Tatay Digong bilang mayor (Our beloved Father Digong has finally taken his oath as mayor),” and “Welcome home, Tatay Digong.”

The facts: Duterte has not taken his oath of office as Davao City mayor as he remains detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. He faces charges related to crimes against humanity stemming from his administration’s controversial war on drugs.

Recognizing Duterte’s temporary legal incapacity to perform his duties, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a directive for Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, to assume the role of the city’s acting mayor. In a letter dated June 30, 2025, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla cited Section 46(a) of the Local Government Code, emphasizing the urgent need to “prevent paralysis of government operations” in the city.

The Commission on Elections had earlier proclaimed the detained former president as the winner of the 2025 Davao City mayoral race, but acknowledged that his legal issues hindered his assumption of office.

Based on the election code, Duterte has six months to take his oath — or the vacancy becomes permanent.

Councilor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II — the elder Duterte’s grandson and son of Representative Paolo Duterte — is the city’s acting vice mayor.

Request for interim release: On June 12, Duterte’s legal team filed a request for interim release on humanitarian grounds, citing his advanced age and a foreign state’s willingness to host him under court-imposed conditions.

However, the ICC Prosecution strongly opposed the request, warning that Duterte posed a flight risk, could obstruct justice, and might commit further offenses. In a June 23 filing, Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang stressed that Duterte’s continued detention “remains necessary,” also citing his previous threats against ICC personnel. 

As the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber has not ruled on the petition, Duterte remains detained. His confirmation of charges hearing is scheduled for September 23. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com

Marjuice Destinado is a junior political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU). An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2025, she is also the feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.