Baste Duterte takes over as PDP Laban President; Robin Padilla goes on leave
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senator Robin Padilla has taken a leave as PDP-Laban president to focus on his legislative duties in the 20th Congress, with Baste Duterte assuming the party leadership under the rule of succession.
Senator Robinhood Padilla has stepped aside as president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), the party announced Monday, June 16, citing his intention to concentrate on his legislative duties as in the 20th Congress.
Davao City Vice Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte (Ivy Tejano)
Executive Vice President Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will assume the party’s presidency in line with the PDP-Laban constitution's rule of succession. The younger Duterte, son of PDP-Laban Chairman and former President Rodrigo Duterte, was recently elected vice mayor of Davao City in the May 2025 elections.
Padilla, who led PDP-Laban’s campaign efforts in the recent polls, said the intense demands of the campaign season required him to step back from party leadership temporarily.
“Layunin ko pong ituon ang aking atensyon sa aking tungkulin bilang senador, lalo na sa paghahanda sa pagbubukas ng 20th Congress (My aim is to focus my attention on my duties as a senator, especially in preparing for the opening of the 20th Congress),” Padilla said in a letter addressed to Party Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi.
The actor-turned-lawmaker emphasized that his time and energy during the election campaign left little room to continue leading the party day-to-day. However, he reaffirmed his loyalty to PDP-Laban and former President Duterte.
Padilla said he remains fully committed to advancing the party’s legislative agenda in the new Congress despite going on leave.
The party has not yet announced whether Padilla’s leave will be temporary or indefinite, nor has it released further details on the transition process.