MAYOR Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was formally installed as the new President of the PDP-Laban party during a National Council meeting on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
Mayor Duterte is set to carry on the legacy of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who remains the party’s national chairman.
The mayor took his oath of office before top party officials, including outgoing president Senator Robin Padilla, Senator Bong Go, and Atty. Wendel Avisado, and PDP-Laban vice chairman Alfonso Cusi.
The leadership transition signaled a consolidation of the party’s ranks ahead of upcoming political cycles, with party stalwarts expressing full support for the younger Duterte’s leadership.
Duterte took the oath amid the deepening rift between their family and the Marcos administration and his allies. His sister, Vice President Sara Duterte is facing impeachment with the House committee on justice set to resume deliberations into the legal grounds to endorse the complaint to the Senate for trial.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s father remains in custody in The Hague with the ICC Pre-trial Chamber scheduled to render judgment on the issue of jurisdiction on April 22, 2026.
Photo by Sen. Robin Padilla
