Reuters —
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was almost certain to be elected mayor of his home city by a landslide on Monday, unimpeded by his detention at the International Criminal Court on charges of murder as a crime against humanity.
With 80% of votes counted in an unofficial tally, Duterte, who was brought to The Hague in March over his bloody “war on drugs” that killed thousands of people, was winning the Davao mayoral contest with eight times more votes than his nearest rival.
The victory during nationwide midterm elections is testament to the 80-year-old’s enduring influence in the southern city, owing to his reputation as a crime-buster that earned him the nicknames “Duterte Harry” and “the Punisher.”
Duterte’s old Facebook account was flooded with congratulatory messages from supporters, with some calling for his return to serve his people.
“Congratulations, Tatay (father) D! Let’s bring him home,” read one of the comments.
Duterte could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial at the ICC.
