A couple of friends texted me a few days ago about a nasty rumor that Malacanang has a covert plan to appoint a caretaker Mayor for Davao City claiming that elected Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will no longer be able to assume office because of his present condition.
A member of the City Council and a diehard follower of the former President said that the rumor is worrisome given the negative attitude of the national leadership and its allies in Congress faulting the former President and Vice Sara Duterte at every turn.
Former President Duterte and his son Sebastian “Baste” Duterte run for Mayor and Vice Mayor respectively and overwhelmingly won the election against the administration candidate Karlo Nograles and company. Baste assumed as Acting Mayor of Davao in the absence of his father who is in detention at the Hague and still awaiting trial.
The rumor could only be part of the larger scheme to demoralize Davawenyos right in Duterte’s turf. It is testing the waters too especially that the plot is to appoint a defeated mayoral candidate of the administration… meaning Karlo Nograles.
That’s a shoot for the moon. The national government’s role is one of general supervision, not one of substitution or control over the local leadership succession. The principle of devolution and local autonomy protects the local government unit’s right to have its own elected officials, or the next-in-line elected official, assume the post.
Furthermore, the premise that Mayor-elect Digong “will likely not able to serve” due to a detention or incapacity does not bypass the Vice Mayor. If the incapacity or detention is temporary, VM Baste serves as Acting Mayor. If the incapacity or detention leads to a permanent vacancy (e.g., a final disqualification, removal, or conviction that prevents assumption of office), Vice Mayor Baste succeeds as Mayor.
Succession being by operation of law is mandatory and ministerial, says a legal luminary who begged not to be identified.
So there. Whoever is salivating for the mayoral post better forget your aspiration. It is just a bad dream.
