In this June 30, 2016 file photo, President Duterte is seen taking his oath of office with his youngest child, Veronica “Kitty” Duterte holding the Bible. Third from left is Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (Malacañang pool photo)
The children of President Rodrigo Duterte have formally made known their bid to keep a firm grip of Davao City.
President Duterte’s eldest son Paolo Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for Davao City’s 1st District representative in the 2019 elections last Friday.
His daughter incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her COC on Monday for another term as mayor.
President Duterte’s youngest son, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, will be Sara’s running mate as he filed his COC as vice mayor of Davao City on Tuesday.
The Dutertes have been leading Davao City since 1986 when President Duterte was appointed as officer-in-charge Vice Mayor by former President Corazon Aquino after the People Power Revolution.
President Duterte, then, ran and won for the mayoral post in 1988 and served until 1998. In 1998, he ran as a representative of Davao City’s 1st district and won.
He was elected again as mayor of Davao City in 2001 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2007. Sara, then, assumed office as Davao City mayor in 2010 with President Duterte as her vice mayor.
In 2013, President Duterte returned to the mayoral post with son Paolo Duterte as his vice mayor. The younger Duterte secured his post in the 2016 elections as his father won the presidential polls./ac