Quick Hit:

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte secured a landslide victory in his hometown’s mayoral election Monday, even as he remains detained at the International Criminal Court on murder charges. With 80% of ballots tallied, Duterte’s overwhelming support underscores his enduring influence in Davao City.

Key Details:

• Duterte leads the Davao mayoral race with eight times more votes than his closest opponent, based on an unofficial count.
• He remains in The Hague facing charges of murder as a crime against humanity for his deadly “war on drugs.”
• Supporters flooded his Facebook page with congratulations, some calling for his release and return to office.

Diving Deeper:

Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, appeared set to return as mayor of Davao City by an overwhelming margin on Monday, even while detained thousands of miles away at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Unofficial results showed Duterte winning eight times more votes than his nearest rival with 80% of ballots counted during the country’s nationwide midterm elections.

The 80-year-old leader was arrested in March after being charged with murder as a crime against humanity over his administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign, which claimed thousands of lives. Despite — or perhaps because of — his detention, Duterte’s popularity in his home city remained untarnished, reinforcing his reputation as a crime-fighter and the man known to many simply as "Duterte Harry" or "The Punisher."

Celebrations erupted online as supporters flooded Duterte’s old Facebook account with congratulatory messages. "Congratulations, Tatay D! Let’s bring him home," read one comment, using a Filipino term of endearment meaning "father." Many echoed a desire to see Duterte freed and serving once again.

Duterte’s victory, even while confined abroad, highlights the deep loyalty he commands in Davao, where his tough-on-crime policies first catapulted him to national prominence. His surprise arrest by Philippine police at the ICC's request drew fierce backlash among his base, with many condemning the move as a politically motivated “kidnapping” orchestrated by a foreign court.

If brought to trial, Duterte would become the first former Asian head of state prosecuted at the ICC — a historic case that is already fueling nationalist sentiment in the Philippines.