DAVAO CITY – A Davao City councilor said on Tuesday, Nov. 25, that shifts in committee chairmanships are likely once acting Vice Mayor Rodrigo S. Duterte II formally assumes his post.

Councilor Alberto Ungab, chairperson of the Committees on Appointments and Government Reorganization and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, speaking  at the Pulong-Pulong Dabawenyos at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said that some committee posts currently held by Duterte will become vacant.

“Certainly, there will be some changes. If the acting vice mayor, who is still a councilor as of now, officially assumes the post as vice mayor, the committees he served will be vacant,” he said.

Ungab said committee reassignments are possible, but stressed that the City Council will not speculate about it.

“This is only one possible thing that could happen.”

“It’s possible that the newly appointed official will be assigned to the vacant committee chairmanship. But again, we could not make any speculations about it,” the councilor added.

Asked about Veronica “Kitty” Duterte — the youngest daughter of former President and incumbent Mayor Rodrigo Duterte — as a potential nominee, Ungab said he was not aware of the matter.

Regarding matters concerning the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod party-list, he said that internal discussions may be taking place, but reiterated that rank-and-file members are not involved.

Ungab said that, to his knowledge, the mayor will make a recommendation before the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He emphasized that discussions regarding new appointees to elective positions, including those on the barangay level, will originate from the mayor and require approval from the DILG.

The councilor emphasized that as of Tuesday, the acting vice mayor is also a councilor and cannot yet fully assume the powers of his post until the formal oath-taking takes place.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, said the person to fill the vacant seat should be a member of the HTL party.

Dayanghirang noted that the law permits the political party to nominate its preferred candidate as a replacement, and Kitty is eligible for consideration as she belongs to FPRRD’s party.

Vice Mayor Duterte earlier confirmed that the schedule of his official oath-taking—and that of his uncle, acting City Mayor Sebastian Duterte—may take place on or before December.

Former President Duterte, who won the post in the May elections, remains unable to assume office as he is still detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Vice Mayor Duterte clarified that the council has also not yet discussed who will fill his seat as councilor, but confirmed that the replacement will come from Hugpong.