2025 Davao City local elections

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2025 Davao City local elections
Davao City Ph official seal.png
←  2022 May 12, 2025 (2025-05-12)2028 →
Mayoral election
 
Rodrigo Duterte holds a meeting (cropped).jpg
Chair Karlo Nograles, CSC (cropped).png
Candidate Rodrigo Duterte Karlo Nograles
Party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Independent
Incumbent Mayor

Sebastian Duterte
Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod



Vice Mayoral election
 
Baste Duterte 2022 2.jpg
Candidate Sebastian Duterte Bernard Al-ag
Party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Independent
Incumbent Vice Mayor

J. Melchor Quitain Jr.
Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod



The 2025 Davao City local elections are scheduled for May 12, 2025, as part of the 2025 Philippine local elections. Registered voters in Davao City will elect candidates for local positions including Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Councilors across the city's three legislative districts. The elections are notable for featuring former President Rodrigo Duterte seeking to return as mayor of the city he previously led for over 22 years.

Contents

Background

Political context

Davao City, the largest city in Mindanao and third most populous urban center in the Philippines, has been governed by members of the Duterte family for most of the past four decades. The city has served as the political base for the Duterte dynasty since 1988, when Rodrigo Duterte first became mayor.[ citation needed ]

The 2025 elections mark a significant political development as incumbent Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, declined to seek re-election, instead opting to run for Vice Mayor. This decision opened the door for his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to attempt a return to city hall after completing his presidential term (2016-2022).

Electoral system

The elections follow the standard Philippine electoral system for local positions:

Voting is conducted using automated counting machines, following the implementation of the Automated Election System in the Philippines.[ citation needed ]

Tickets

Administration Coalition

Team Duterte 2025
Position#CandidateParty
MayorRodrigo Duterte Hugpong
Vice MayorBaste Duterte Hugpong

Oposition Coalition

Team Nograles 2025
Position#CandidateParty
MayorKarlo Nograles Independent
Vice MayorBernie Al-ag Independent
1st district House representativeMigs Nograles Independent
2nd district House representativeJavi Garcia Campos PFP
3rd district House representativeNonoy Al-ag Lakas
1st district CouncilorNilo Abellera Jr PFP
1st district CouncilorCherry Al-ag Independent
1st district CouncilorEking Liparanon Lakas
2nd district CouncilorPriscilla Galope Lakas
2nd district CouncilorMac Quilatena Lakas
2nd district CouncilorPao Salvador PFP
3rd district CouncilorMomay Al-ag Lakas

Candidates

Mayoral race

The mayoral race features five candidates representing diverse political backgrounds:

CandidatePartyBackground and platform
Rodrigo Duterte Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Former President of the Philippines (2016-2022) and former mayor of Davao City (1988-1998, 2001-2010, 2013-2016). Campaign focuses on continuing his family's legacy of strict law enforcement, anti-corruption measures, and infrastructure development.
Karlo NogralesIndependentFormer Cabinet Secretary under Presidents Duterte and Marcos, and former Representative of Davao City's 1st District (2010-2018). Campaign emphasizes economic revitalization, educational reforms, and balanced governance.
Rod CubosIndependentBusinessman and political newcomer advocating for greater transparency in government, expanded social services, and support for small businesses.
Jonathan JulaineWorkers' and Peasants' PartyLabor rights advocate campaigning on platforms of workers' rights, affordable housing, and equitable development.
Joselito TanIndependentCommunity leader and former barangay captain running on a grassroots platform focused on neighborhood improvements and participatory governance.

Vice mayoral race

The vice mayoral contest features the incumbent mayor seeking the second-highest position in the city:

CandidatePartyBackground and platform
Sebastian "Baste" Duterte Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Incumbent Mayor of Davao City (2022-2025) and son of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Campaign emphasizes continuity in governance and support for his father's potential mayoral administration.
Bernie Al-agIndependentIncumbent city councilor advocating for legislative reforms and balanced development across districts.
Richard AlcebarIndependentBusinessman and civic leader focusing on economic development and youth empowerment.
Oyie Soriano-BarcenaIndependentEducator and youth advocate emphasizing educational investments and programs for young Davaoeños.

Congressional races

Davao City is divided into three legislative districts, each electing one representative to the House of Representatives of the Philippines:

DistrictNotable candidates
1st DistrictIncumbent Representative Paolo Duterte (HTL), son of Rodrigo Duterte
2nd DistrictOmar Duterte (HTL), grandson of Rodrigo Duterte
3rd DistrictIncumbent Representative Isidro Ungab (HTL)

City Council

The Davao City Council consists of 24 elected councilors (8 from each district) plus 2 ex-officio members. Major parties fielding candidates include:

Pre-election opinion polling

University of Mindanao survey

A pre-election survey conducted by the University of Mindanao-Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) from January 8 to 28, 2025, showed strong voter preference for Duterte-affiliated candidates. The survey sampled 2,582 registered voters across Davao City's three districts, with a margin of error of ±2.5%. [1]

Key findings:

PositionLeading candidateVoter preference
MayorRodrigo Duterte60.0%
Vice MayorSebastian "Baste" Duterte55.7%
1st District RepresentativePaolo Duterte54.8%
2nd District RepresentativeOmar Duterte41.8%
3rd District RepresentativeIsidro Ungab39.6%

The survey also indicated that 15% of voters remained undecided in the mayoral race, suggesting room for shifts in voter preference before election day.[ citation needed ]

Public issues and voter concerns

According to various local surveys, the key issues identified by Davao voters include:

Campaign developments

Key events

Campaign strategies

The Duterte campaign has emphasized the family's long record of governance in Davao City, with rallies frequently highlighting the city's transformation under their leadership. Campaign materials prominently feature the slogan "Balik sa Hugot" (Return to the Core), suggesting a return to the governance style that characterized Rodrigo Duterte's previous terms as mayor.

Independent candidates, including Karlo Nograles, have positioned themselves as offering both experience and fresh approaches. Nograles' campaign has emphasized his national government experience while promising to introduce governance innovations drawing from his cabinet work.

Grassroots candidates like Jonathan Julaine have focused on community organizing and door-to-door campaigning, highlighting local issues and advocating for greater representation of working-class concerns in city governance.

Expected results

The election results are anticipated to be announced within 24-48 hours after polls close, as mandated by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Given the automated nature of Philippine elections, initial results are typically available on election night, with official canvassing completed within days.

Based on historical voting patterns and current polling, political analysts anticipate a competitive race, though with advantages for candidates from the long-dominant Duterte political family.

After the arrest of Rodrigo Duterte for the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 2025, the COMELEC issued a statement that Duterte could still be proclaimed as mayor in absentia if he win the mayoral election if he is still in detention at The Hague in the Netherlands. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will decide if Duterte has the capability to fulfill his role while in detention overseas. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Patumbon, Rojean Grace (February 19, 2025). "Duterte candidates top 2025 election survey". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ↑ Cabalza, Dexter (March 16, 2025). "Poll chief: Duterte can be proclaimed if he wins". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 20, 2025.


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