Former President Rodrigo Duterte, February 13, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

20250213-PDP Laban-proclamation rally-MT

Katrina Domingo

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174710686280720220213-pdp-laban-proclamation-rally-MT-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former President Rodrigo Duterte, February 13, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>DAVAO CITY — The “overwhelming” votes that former President Rodrigo Duterte garnered in the 2025 midterm elections shows the public’s “total rejection” of the government’s move to “attempt to stamp out” his legacy, his lawyer said on Tuesday.</p><p>Duterte is poised to retake Davao City’s mayoral seat as the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) partial count showed that he garnered 539,141 votes, a significant leap from his rival Karlo Nograles’ 65,090 votes, as of 10 a.m.</p><p>“The solitary ballot paper of Rodrigo Duterte is of less significance than the overwhelming support expressed for him today at the polls,” said Nicholas Kaufman, the former president’s legal counsel.</p><p>“The electorate showed its clear desire for the former President’s return to the Philippines and its total rejection of the Marcos Government’s vain attempt to stamp out his legacy,” he told reporters in a statement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/9/prosecutors-victims-have-until-june-9-to-submit-input-on-duterte-challenge-of-jurisdiction-1326">ICC sets deadline to submit observations on Duterte challenge of jurisdiction</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/8/icc-prosecutor-submits-second-batch-of-evidence-vs-duterte-case-1407">ICC prosecutor submits second batch of evidence vs Duterte</a></div><p>Vice President Sara Duterte earlier said that she informed her father that their allies in the Senate race could clinch <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/vp-sara-more-than-2-duterte-bets-have-realistic-chance-at-senate-seats-1224">“more than 2” seats in the Senate.</a></p><p>With 80.51 percent of election returns transmitted, Duterte’s former close aide Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go continues to dominate the senatorial contest with 21.78 million votes.</p><p>Other Duterte-backed candidates who have entered the so-called Magic 12, include Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Rep. Camille Villar and Sen. Imee Marcos.</p><div><strong>Filipinos worldwide can stay updated on election-related news and results via the</strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/halalan-2025"><strong> “Halalan” page on ABS-CBN.com.</strong></a></div><div><iframe width="1503" height="750" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KHuReVX8VAU" title="Halalan 2025: The ABS-CBN Special Marathon Coverage of the 2025 Philippine Elections" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The “overwhelming” votes that former President Rodrigo Duterte garnered in the 2025 midterm elections shows the public’s “total rejection” of the government’s move to “attempt to stamp out” his legacy, his lawyer said on Tuesday.</p>

The “overwhelming” votes that former President Rodrigo Duterte garnered in the 2025 midterm elections shows the public’s “total rejection” of the government’s move to “attempt to stamp out” his legacy, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

‘Overwhelming’ votes for Duterte shows ‘total rejection’ of ICC arrest: Kaufman | ABS-CBN

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‘Overwhelming’ votes for Duterte shows ‘total rejection’ of ICC arrest: Kaufman

Katrina Domingo,

Overwhelming’ votes for Duterte shows ‘total rejection’ of ICC arrest: Kaufman

Published May 13, 2025 11:30 AM PHT

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