MANILA — A conviction by the International Criminal Court (ICC) won’t automatically disqualify former Philippine President and newly-elected Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte from holding public office, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Thursday.
Speaking at the “Kapihan sa Senado” forum, Escudero explained that under Philippine law, only certain criminal convictions can lead to perpetual disqualification from office. The ICC, he emphasized, is not part of the country’s judicial system.
“I don’t believe that’s a penalty enforceable by the ICC. That kind of disqualification is specific to our local laws,” said Escudero, a lawyer by profession.
Duterte, currently detained in The Hague on charges related to alleged crimes against humanity during his war on drugs, won the mayoral race in Davao City by a landslide, receiving over 662,000 votes.
Escudero noted that Duterte could still take his oath of office, possibly through the Philippine consular office in the Netherlands. However, consular visits can only happen if requested by the detainee, in line with The Hague’s rules.
If Duterte is unable to perform his mayoral duties due to his detention, the vice mayor is expected to take over, in accordance with the Local Government Code. The Commission on Elections deferred to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding the official designation of acting mayor.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines on March 11 following an ICC-issued warrant. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, said legal discussions are ongoing regarding the next steps following his electoral win.