ACTING Vice Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II admitted being nervous in presiding over the maiden session of the 21st City Council on Tuesday, July 1.
Rigo was designated the acting vice mayor after getting the highest number of votes in the recent 2025 mid-term elections, following the Department of Interior and Local Government directive appointing Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte as the acting mayor due to the legal incapacity of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Syempre nakulbaan, pero daghan man motabang sa akoa, daghan man mosupport sa akoa mga konsehal, naa pud akong mga tiyo Baste nako,” Rigo told reporters after the inaugural session.
Rigo, being the topnotcher councilor, was designated the acting vice mayor in accordance with Section 46 (a) of the Local Government Code.
In the more than two-hour-long session, which he called to order at 1:26 p.m. and adjourned at around 3:30 pm, Rigo was seen to be relying on what appeared to be a script and was constantly taught by Sanguniang Panglungsod secretary Charito Santos.
When asked to evaluate his experience, he said, “So, far okay ra man, I think it was not bad.”
He assured that he will do his best to serve as the presiding officer of the 21st City Council.
“For sure, paningkamotan jud nako na nga di masayang ang ilang boto sa akoa, ug sa amoang pamilya, trabaho naman jud, ug buhaton jud nako tanan nakong makaya to serve the people of Davao,” he stressed.
Rigo also vowed to continue his platforms like peace and order, healthcare , education, and housing. He was also elected the chairman of the committee on future generations, which was previously under former councilor Jonard Dayap.
Reelected councilor Bonz Andre Militar co-chairs the committee, which consists of members: second-termer Enzo Villafuerte, first-termer Ragde Ibuyan, and assistant floor leader Diosdado Angelo Mahipus.
Rigo, 26, is the youngest Duterte to hold an elected post. While being a newbie in the legislative branch of the city, he was the right hand of his father, Congressman Pulong, during the latter’s stint as the representative of the city’s first legislative district.
