Sara Duterte, 43, is the incumbent mayor of Davao City. She became the city's first female mayor and the youngest to ever be elected in its history. She is the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte who also served as mayor of the southern city for several terms before seeking the country's highest office.
Duterte is the running-mate of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., a former senator who is also the son and namesake of the late ousted dictator. She entered the vice presidential race at the last hour via substitution after initially claiming that she had no interest in seeking a national post.
Her younger brother, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte withdrew his bid for reelection and substituted into the Davao City mayoral race. Their brother, Paolo Duterte, has retained his candidacy for reelection as representative of the 1st District of Davao City.
Mayor Duterte is running on shifting the system of government to federalism to veer away from what she derides as "imperial Manila," a hark back to her father's own campaign rhetoric. Her last-minute substitution into a national race is also reminiscent of her father's own run.
The Marcos-Duterte tandem is formally backed by several other heavyweight political clans including those led by former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada.
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
Federalism and regional and intensified provincial development
Outspokenness in media against what she calls “imperial Manila," insisting that the focus of decisions and development in the capital region is to the detriment of the country’s other regions
Vowed to support the efforts of legislators under her senatorial lineup if elected into office
Claimed during her online show that fixing the general systems of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. “has always been one of the biggest problems that we are facing.”
Mandatory military service for Filipinos aged 18 years old, paid a subsidy in return for serving in the AFP
Replicate the disaster preparedness training that the Sangguniang Kabataan in Davao City conducted
Claimed she told the SK to stop creating basketball leagues, local beauty pageants and contests which wasted government funds, and promoted a community emergency response team training as well as setting up a youth and adolescents health development center to address “current problems” of the youth such as mental wellness in gender identification and teenage pregnancy
The candidate's top five accomplishments and contributions for the last 15 years or so
Public Office
Under Duterte's watch, Davao became the eighth richest city in the country in 2020, climbing one spot from the year before. Davao was also ranked the fourth most urbanized city by the Department of Trade and Industry as of 2021, based on the metrics of economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.
She gained national attention after she repeatedly punched a Regional Trial Court sheriff in July 2011 for which she faced administrative and criminal complaints. Duterte was also reprimanded by the Office of the Ombudsman over the matter and faces disbarment complaints. She apologized but said she was ready to “face the consequences."
In her first term as mayor, she was appointed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to serve as chairperson of the Regional Development Council and selected as chairman of the Board-Regional Development Committee-Mindanao Area Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority.
Later, from 2016 to 2022, she played supporting roles in the RDC and the Regional Peace and Order Council.
Davao City mayor, 2016-present
Ongoing projects; inclusion of Davao City as 2021 Top 10 Richest Cities list of the Commission on Audit and ranking 4th Highly Urbanized City for 2021 by the Department of Trade and Industry in its Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
Davao City mayor, 2016-2019
Ongoing projects; inclusion of Davao City as 2021 Top 10 Richest Cities list of the Commission on Audit and ranking 4th Highly Urbanized City for 2021 by the Department of Trade and Industry in its Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index
Davao City mayor, 2016-present
Botika ng Bayan centers and Malasakit Centers set up in the city’s 17 districts to help indigent residents process documents for medical assistance continue to operate
Priority set in 2016, district hospital completed in 2021.
Marilog District Hospital, with personnel coming from IPs communities in the area with medical scholarship grants from the city, continue to operate
To set healthcare agenda of detection, surveillance, and prevention of coronavirus transmission:
- Executive Order 18 (An Order providing for Heightened Surveillance and Response of Covid-19 cases In Davao City)
- Executive Order 20 (An Order providing for Mandatory Swabbing of all F1, F2, and F3 Contacts of an RT-PCR Confirmed Positive Case of COVID-19 In Davao City)
Mayor, 2020 to present
Zoning containment strategy and city-wide mobile contact tracing system still being used to date with local government-procured booster shots available to the general public
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
| Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Potential Liability | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two disbarment complaints filed in relation to then-Mayor Duterte’s punching of RTC Sheriff Abe Andres in July 2011 during demolition of informal settlers’ shanties | Complaint filed by lawyer Fernando Perito in July 2011Complaint filed by the Sheriffs’ Confederation of the Philippines in August 2011 | Suspension of license to practice law, or other penalties like reprimand | Pending |
| Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Accrued Liability | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Then-Mayor Duterte repeatedly punched RTC Sheriff Abe Andres during a demolition of informal settlers’ shanties in July 2011 | Andres did not file any suit but the Sheriffs Confederation of the Philippines filed criminal and administrative complaints in 2011 | Reprimanded by the Office of the Ombudsman with a warning that a repetition of the incident will be dealt with more severely. The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal aspect for lack of a complainant | Resolved, Duterte also issued public apologies |
Also known as SALN, this document is a declaration of one's personal finances. Philippine Law requires the SALN to be submitted by all public officials and employees to the Ombudsman. Public officials and employees may opt to voluntarily disclose their SALN to the public.
Duterte has filed eight SALNs since 2007. Her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth in 2007 declares a net worth of 13.88 million pesos and shares in three companies.
Like her father and brother, Duterte has so far failed to publicize a complete breakdown of her wealth. A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism found that Duterte, along with her brother, Paolo, and her father all saw significant spikes in wealth during their time in public office.
* As of 2017 SALN
Key details about the candidate's campaign
House Majority Leader and Leyte representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Davao Occidental Governor Claude Bautista
UniTeam alliance with running mate Bongbong Marcos, 2021 - present
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
- Peace 911, local peace initiative
- Pagbabago Campaign, addressing poverty, children’s education and responsible parenthood,
- Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day, livelihood support project for the LGBT community
- Kean Gabriel Hotline, for anonymous reporting of child neglect and abuse
Status: ongoing
Passage of Davao City Women Development Code, creation of Integrated Gender and Development Division under the Office of the Mayor
Position/Date: Mayor, 2019 to present
Set up Botika ng Bayan centers and Malasakit Centers in the city’s 17 districts to help indigent residents process documents for medical assistance
Position/Date: Mayor, 2019 to present
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
Elizabeth Abellana Zimmerman (73 years old), mother, flight attendant
Paolo Zimmerman Duterte, representative of the 1st District of Davao City
Sebastian Zimmerman Duterte, vice mayor of Davao City
Veronica Duterte, student
Mikhaila María Carpio
Mateo Lucas Carpio
Marko Digong Carpio
•Admitted to the Philippine Bar, 2005
•Bachelor of Laws, San Sebastian College – Recoletos, 2005
•Bachelor of Science, Respiratory Therapy, San Pedro College, 1999
• Mayor, Davao City, 2010 - 2013; 2016 - present
•Partner, Carpio & Duterte Lawyers, 2013 - 2016
•Chairman, Board-Regional Development Committee-Mindanao Area Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority
•Chairperson, Regional Development Council
•Vice Mayor, Davao City, 2007 – 2010
•Court Attorney, Office of the Associate Justice Romeo J. Carpio Sr., Supreme Court
