Local elections were held in Davao City on May 12, 2025, as part of the 2025 Philippine general election. The city electorate elected a mayor, a vice mayor, 24 members of the Davao City Council, and three district representatives to the House of Representatives.
The elections were notable for featuring the political comeback of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was seeking to return to the post he had previously held for over 22 years, despite awaiting trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity for his role in the Philippine drug war.
Background
Davao City, the largest city in Mindanao, the third most populous urban center in the Philippines and the largest city by land area, has been ruled by the Duterte family for most of the past four decades. The city has served as the political base for the dynasty since the first post-EDSA elections in 1988, when Rodrigo Duterte was first elected city mayor.
The 2025 elections mark a significant political development as incumbent mayor Sebastian Duterte chose not to seek reelection, instead running for vice mayor. This decision paved the way for his father, the former president, to seek a return to City Hall after serving as president from 2016 to 2022.
After Duterte's arrest by the International Criminal Court in March 2025, the Commission on Elections stated that Duterte could still be proclaimed as mayor in absentia should he win the mayoral race, even if he is still in detention at The Hague, Netherlands. The Department of the Interior and Local Government will decide if Duterte has the capability to fulfill his role while in detention overseas.
Electoral system
Local elections in the Philippines are held every second Monday of May, every three years starting in 1992. Single-seat positions (mayor, vice mayor and district representative) are elected via first-past-the-post-voting. The mayor and vice mayor are elected by the city at-large, while the House representative and city councilors are elected per district.
City council elections are done via plurality block voting; for the Davao City Council, the city is divided into three districts, with each district sending eight councilors. There are two other ex officio seats representing the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and the Association of Barangay Captains; these will be determined later following the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Candidates Administration coalition +Team DutertePosition# Candidate PartyMayor2.Rodrigo DuterteVice mayor3.Sebastian Duterte1st district representative1.Paolo Duterte1st district councilor2.Luna AcostaHNP5.Cookie Bonguyan6.TJ Corsino10.Rodrigo Duterte II13.Ragde Niño Ibuyan16.Pameng Librado18.Bonz Militar19.Tek Ocampo20.Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr.2nd district representative2.Omar Duterte2nd district councilor1.Ralph Opsima Abella3.Al Ryan Alejandre4.Laude Apostol6.Louie John Bonguyan7.Nilo Cabiles8.Nonong Cabling12.Danilo Dayanghirang13.Jonard Dayap14.Jimmy Dureza18.Che Che Justol19.Diosdado Mahipus20.Dayang Orcullo24.Allan Simo-ag3rd district representative5.Isidro Ungab3rd district councilor1.Sweet Advincula3.Jopet Baluran4.Abay Bargamento8.Bebot Clarion9.Myrna Dalodo Ortiz15.Rodolfo Mande22.Petite Principe24.Alberto Ungab25.Enzo Villafuerte26.Potpot Villafuerte27.Rachel Zozobrado
Opposition coalition +Team Nograles-Al-AgPosition# Candidate PartyMayor4.Karlo NogralesVice mayor1.Bernard Al-ag1st district representative5.Migs Nograles1st district councilor1.Nilo Abellera Jr.4.Cherry Al-ag11.Priscilla Galope17.Eking Liparanon2nd district representative1.Javi Garcia Campos2nd district councilor5.Janel Banzon21.Mac Quilaneta23.Pao Salvador3rd district representative1.Wilberto Al-ag3rd district councilor2.Momay Al-ag12.Larry Franco20.Jetjet Pantig
Others
+Partido Federal ng PilipinasPosition# Name Party3rd district representative2.Ruy Elias Lopez
+Workers' and Peasants' PartyPosition# Name PartyMayor3.Jonathan Julaine
+IndependentsPosition# Name PartyMayor1.Rod Cubos5.Joselito TanVice mayor2.Richard Alcebar4.Oyie Soriano-Barcena1st district representative2.Janeth Jabines3.Rex Labis4.Mags Maglana1st district councilor3.Mary Jane Aguinaldo7.Archie Cubos8.Kariz Cubos-Martinez9.Jen-Jen Dulla12.Franz Gonzales14.Ojeng Jabines15.Bong Javier21.Alvin Roy22.Antonette Sabes23.Bitoy Villasis2nd district representative3.Melogen Montesclaros2nd district councilor2.Mary Crystel Abrenica9.Venz Cañonera10.Regidor Cortez11.Keith Corton15.Tony Emberda16.Yang Felipas17.Felochie Gencianos22.Henry Respecia25.Erwin Uy3rd district representative3.Lito Monreal4.Dindo Plaza3rd district councilor5.Ramil Fernando Brucal6.Michael Cabalhin7.Ricky Castillote10.Efren Desierto11.Julie Leah Echalico13.Daniel Guillen14.Junrich Sumile Malolot16.Manuel Mendoza17.Carmela Merquita18.Leonara Digna Naraval19.Luis Narisma21.Exequiel Placio23.Rowena Soriano-Donato
Mayoral election Despite his detention at The Hague, Rodrigo Duterte was proclaimed winner of the mayoral election by COMELEC Davao City on May 13, 2025. The commission does not require winning candidates to be present during the proclamation ceremony.
Candidates Rod Cubos (Independent) Rodrigo Duterte (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod), president of the Philippines (2016–2022) and mayor of Davao City (1988–1998, 2001–2010, 2013–2016) Jonathan Julaine (Workers' and Peasants' Party) Karlo Nograles (Independent), chair of Civil Service Commission (2022–2024) and 1st district representative (2010–2018) Joselito Tan (Independent)
Results
Vice mayoral election
Candidates Bernard Al-ag (Independent), incumbent city councilor from the 1st district (2022–present) Richard Alcebar (Independent) Sebastian Duterte (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod), incumbent mayor of Davao City (2022–present) Oyie Soriano-Barcena (Independent)
Results
Congressional elections First district Incumbent Paolo Duterte is running for re-election to a third term. His opponents are PBA Partylist Representative Migs Nograles and independent candidates Janeth Jabines, Rex Labis and Mags Maglana.
Candidates Paolo Duterte (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod), incumbent representative from Davao City's 1st district (2019–present) Janeth Jabines (Independent) Rex Labis (Independent) Mags Maglana (Independent) Migs Nograles (Independent), incumbent representative for PBA Partylist (2022–present)
Results
Second district Incumbent Vincent Garcia is eligible to a third term but did not seek re-election. He fielded his nephew, city councilor Javi Garcia Campos, to succeed him. His opponents are Omar Duterte, son of 1st district representative Paolo Duterte, and independent candidate Melogen Montesclaros.
Candidates Javi Garcia Campos (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), incumbent city councilor from the 2nd district (2019–present) Omar Duterte (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod), incumbent barangay chairman of Buhangin, Davao City (2023–present) Melogen Montesclaros (Independent)
Results
Third district Incumbent Isidro Ungab is running for re-election to a third term. His opponents are 3rd district councilor Nonoy Al-ag, former representative Ruy Elias Lopez, and independent candidates Lito Monreal and Dindo Plaza.
Candidates Nonoy Al-ag (Lakas–CMD), incumbent city councilor from the 3rd district (2019–present) Ruy Elias Lopez (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas), former representative from Davao City's 3rd district (1998–2007) and 2022 candidate for mayor of Davao City Lito Monreal (Independent) Dindo Plaza (Independent) Isidro Ungab (Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod), incumbent representative from Davao City's 3rd district (2019–present)
Results
City Council elections
First district The first city council district, co-terminous with Davao City's 1st congressional district, is composed of the administrative districts of Poblacion and Talomo (54 barangays).
Results
Second district The second city council district, co-terminous with Davao City's 2nd congressional district, is composed of the administrative districts of Agdao, Buhangin, Bunawan and Paquibato (46 barangays).
Results
Third district The third city council district, co-terminous with Davao City's 3rd congressional district, is composed of the administrative districts of Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, Toril and Tugbok (82 barangays).
Results
Aftermath Upon the start of their terms on June 30, 2025, amidst mayor-elect Rodrigo Duterte's continued detention at The Hague that prevented him from taking the oath of office, vice mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte became the acting mayor, while 1st district councilor-elect Rigo Duterte, who had received the most number of votes for councilor in the entire city, became the acting vice mayor. Rodrigo Duterte ultimately failed to take his oath within the prescribed six-month period. As a result, Sebastian and Rigo Duterte were sworn in as the permanent mayor and vice mayor, respectively, on January 23, 2026. Rigo’s ascension to the vice mayoralty left a vacancy in the Davao City Council.
References