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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Naka-smile': Duterte 'very happy' over midterm poll results, says brother

'Naka-smile': Duterte 'very happy' over midterm poll results, says brother

Published May 15, 2025 03:57 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte was “very happy” upon hearing the outcome of this year's midterm polls, wherein him and his family won overwhelmingly in Davao City, while enough allies in Senate can protect Vice President Sara Duterte from impeachment.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte (ICC Photo)


Bong Duterte, the former chief executive’s youngest brother, is now in The Hague, where he not only met his brother, but former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Filipino supporters as well.

“He is doing well. Medyo malungkot lang (A bit side) because he cannot... ‘yungsa outside world talaga kung ano nangyayari (what’s going on in the outside world). So, I have to brief him about the elections, the outcome ng elections, both the local and national,” the younger Duterte said in an exchange with Roque and his brother’s supporters in The Hague.

“And he is very happy. I told him you got an overwhelming vote as mayor of Davao. So, masayang-masayang siya (he is very happy),” he added.

The former president received 659,557 votes against his opponent’s, former Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles, 80,426 votes.

Bong also informed his brother that the rest of the Duterte kin, including Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Omar Duterte, and others, all won their respective seats.

The former president was also happy with the outcome of the national polls, with three of his "DuterTen" bets—Senators Bong Go and Ronald Dela Rosa and SAGIP Partylist Rep. and incoming Senator Rodante Marcoleta—winning with Vice President Duterte’s personal choices—Senator Imee Marcos and Rep. and Las Piñas Rep. and incoming Senator Camille Villar.

Bong told Duterte that some senators have already switched their support.

“Kaya ang masasabi ko (What I can say), overall, do not worry because I think ang support din nila kay (their support is for) VP Sara,” he said.

“Well, I think para din sa atin (also for us). Overall, nangyari sa national, halos natanggal ‘yung mga, alam mo na sa Congress (what happened in the national, those in Congress were removed),” he added.

The powerful House Quad Committee, which looked into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign and alleged links to POGO operations, lost its co-chairs—Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez—after the former lost his reelection bid, while the latter lost in the gubernatorial race.

Lead committee chair Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Barbers and co-chair Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano are stepping down after serving three terms in the lower house.

Of the original four co-chairs, only Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop—currently the senior vice chair—will make a return to the 20th Congress.

Meanwhile, defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman, said in a pubmat released by Duterte’s political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), reacted on the former president’s mayoralty win in Davao City.

“The electorate showed its clear desire for the former president’s return to the Philippines and its total rejection of the Marcos government’s vain attempt to stamp out his legacy,” he added.

Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands for charges of crimes against humanity of murder in relation to his brutal war on drugs that killed over 6,000 Filipinos, government records showed. Human rights groups argue that the number could go up to 30,000.

He will face the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I for the confirmation of charges on Sept. 23.

Related Tags

Rodrigo Duterte midterm elections The Hague impeachment trial
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