Baste is running as Sara Duterte’s vice mayor

MANILA, Philippines— President Rodrigo Duterte’s youngest son, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, has officially been revealed as Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte’s running mate.

Sebastian, 30, filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor of Davao City on Wednesday afternoon. He was accompanied by sister Sara.

Sebastian, who is running under the mayor's Tawong Lungsod-Hugpong ng Pagbabago, will be seeking an elective post for the first time.

In March, President Duterte had griped that his son was a womanizer.

"O ‘yung si Baste? Pero si Baste naman, babae ang inaatupag (his concern is women), si Adarna," Duterte said then, referring to Sebastian’s former girlfriend, actress Ellen Adarna.

Paolo Duterte, the president's other son, filed his COC for congressman of Davao City’s First District last Friday. He resigned as vice mayor in December 2017.

"There are recent unfortunate events in my life that are closely tied to my failed first marriage. These, among others, include the maligning of my reputation in the recent name dropping incident in the Bureau of Customs smuggling case and very public squabble with my daughter," he said then.

Sara filed her COC for mayor of Davao City on Monday. She was with her husband lawyer Manases Carpio during the filing.

President in favor of banning dynasties

Last August, Duterte sibling’s patriarch reaffirmed his support for a law banning political dynasties.

“I am in favor of putting up...a dynasty law. I am OK with that. I have no problem,” the president said then.

Earlier he also said he is in favor of the proposed abolition of political dynasties. However, the president said he doubts whether the idea would sit well with the public.

Duterte’s family is an influential clan in Davao City.