Former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has officially registered to run for mayor of his hometown, Davao city, despite his controversial legacy stemming from his brutal anti-drugs campaign. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating the crackdown as a possible crime against humanity.
Duterte, 79, filed his candidacy papers with the Election Commission in Davao city, where he previously served as mayor for nearly two decades before assuming the presidency in 2016. His son, Sebastian Duterte, the current mayor of Davao city, will be running as his vice-mayor in the upcoming mid-term elections.
During Duterte's presidency, over 6,000 individuals, primarily impoverished drug suspects, were reportedly killed in a police-led anti-drug operation. Human rights organizations argue that the actual death toll is significantly higher, encompassing numerous unsolved killings allegedly carried out by unidentified gunmen, possibly linked to law enforcement.
Despite his administration's aggressive stance against illegal drugs, Duterte acknowledged that the drug issue persisted. He initially pledged to eradicate the problem within a few months during his presidential campaign but later admitted underestimating its complexity.
In 2019, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court, a move criticized as an attempt to avoid accountability. The ICC prosecutor maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member of the court.
Following the conclusion of his presidential term in 2022, Duterte initially announced his retirement from politics but has since reconsidered his decision multiple times. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, had indicated plans for Duterte and his two brothers to run for Senate seats, but Duterte cited health concerns as a barrier to pursuing national office.
Despite Duterte's enduring popularity post-presidency, human rights groups and political adversaries are expected to mount significant opposition to his return to public office. Tensions between Duterte's family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his successor, have escalated, with Duterte criticizing Marcos as a weak leader and drug user, while Marcos has retaliated by accusing Duterte of opioid use.
The Duterte family's alliance with the Marcos administration has shown signs of strain, particularly over disagreements regarding China's actions in the South China Sea. President Marcos has bolstered ties with the United States amid escalating territorial disputes with China, diverging from Duterte's pro-China stance during his tenure.
Throughout his presidency, Duterte cultivated relationships with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, while expressing skepticism towards the security policies of Western nations.
