Davao City mayor

See also: 1989 Davao hostage crisis

Duterte (left) with President Benigno Aquino III during a meeting with local government unit leaders in Davao
City in 2013

After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Duterte was appointed officer-in-charge vice mayor. In
1988, he ran for mayor and won, serving until 1998. He set a precedent by designating deputy
mayors that represented the Lumad and Moro peoples in the city government, which was later
copied in other parts of the Philippines. In 1998, because he was term-limited to run again for mayor,
he ran for the House of Representatives and won as Congressman of the 1st District of Davao City
(under the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino coalition). In 2001, he ran again for mayor in
Davao and was again elected for his fourth term. He was re-elected in 2004 and in 2007. [25]
Davao City under Duterte won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for being a three-time firstplace winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit, Highly Urbanized City category. In 2013,
Davao City sent rescue and medical teams to Tacloban to give aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan,
locally known in the country as Typhoon Yolanda. Financial assistance was also given
to Bohol and Cebu for the earthquake victims.[26]
One article of Time magazine shows him patrolling in Davao City's streets on one of his big
motorcycles, leading a convoy complete with blaring sirens and M16 rifles. Local news reports show
him foregoing the pomp, opting to inspect in a regular taxi, surprising his would-be passengers. [27]
Though openly supportive of the killings of habitual drug users and dealers, Duterte used city
government funds to build a12-million drug rehabilitation and treatment center which provides 24hour services. In 2003, he offered a 2,000 monthly allowance to drug addicts who personally
approached him and committed to kick the habit. Duterte is also publicly known for visiting
remote New People's Army camps negotiating peace transaction efforts and advocating diplomacy.[27]
Duterte was also the first mayor in the Philippines to give formal representation to
the indigenous Lumad and Muslim community, designating deputy mayors to represent their
interests in the local government. The anti-discrimination ordinance he mandated, was reportedly a
response to news he received that Muslims were being discriminated against by real estate agents.
[27]

In 2010, he was elected vice mayor, succeeding his daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who was elected
as mayor. He has been offered the Interior Secretary post 4 times, by presidents Fidel V.
Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno S. Aquino III but rejected
all of them. In April 2014, he also declined a nomination for the World Mayor Prize, given by an
international body to outstanding mayors saying "he was just doing his job." [27] Among the other
awards Duterte also refused to accept for Davao City include the one given by the American Cancer
Society and the 2010 anti-smoking award in Singapore.[19]