Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte^[1] (born March 28, 1945), nicknamed Digong, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who was the President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

His Excellency Rodrigo Duterte
Official portrait, 2016
16th President of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Vice President	Leni Robredo
Preceded by	Benigno Aquino III
Succeeded by	Bongbong Marcos
Mayor of Davao City
In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by	Sara Duterte
Succeeded by	Sara Duterte
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Benjamin C. de Guzman
Succeeded by	Sara Duterte
In office February 2, 1988 – March 19, 1998
Preceded by	Jacinto T. Rubillar
Succeeded by	Benjamin C. de Guzman
Vice Mayor of Davao City
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Preceded by	Sara Duterte
Succeeded by	Paolo Duterte
In office May 2, 1986 – November 27, 1987 Officer in Charge
Preceded by	Cornelio P. Maskariño
Succeeded by	Gilbert G. Abellera
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Davao City's 1st district
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Prospero Nograles
Succeeded by	Prospero Nograles
Personal details
Born	Rodrigo Roa Duterte (1945-03-28) March 28, 1945 (age 80) Maasin, Leyte, Philippine Commonwealth
Political party	PDP–Laban
Other political affiliations	Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (2011–present)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Zimmerman ​ ​ (m. 1973; ann. 2000)​
Domestic partner	Honeylet Avanceña (c. 1996–present)
Children	Paolo (with Zimmerman) Sara (with Zimmerman) Sebastian (with Zimmerman) Veronica (with Avanceña)
Alma mater	Lyceum of the Philippines University San Beda College
Affiliation	Lex Talionis Fraternitas Beta Sigma Fraternity (Honorary)

He was born in the city of Maasin, Leyte. As of 2025, he is in detention in the Netherlands.^[2] He is in the custody of the ICC, an international court.

Career as politician

He announced that he would run as a candidate for President of the Philippines on November 21, 2015. On May 9, 2016, Duterte was elected president.

He was mayor of Davao City from 1988 through 1998, from 2000 through 2010, and from 2013 through 2016.^[3]

Duterte met with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 2018

In August 2021, he announced his candidacy for Vice President of the Philippines.^[4]

In October 2021, Rodrigo Duterte announced that he was not running for vice-presidency in 2022 and would retire from political life.^[5]

ICC indictment

The investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) led to Duterte's arrest and transfer to The Hague on March 11, 2025, making him the first Philippine president to face an international tribunal and the first Asian leader to face a trial before the ICC.^[6][7]

The indictment against Duterte, which was made public on September 22, 2025, accused him of involvement in the murders of 76 people between 2013 and 2018. 57 of the killings took place during his presidency, and the other 19 occurred during his term as mayor of Davao City.^[8]

Family

His daughter Sara Duterte ran and was elected vice president in a landslide victory in May 2022. His son, Sebastian Duterte, was elected as Davao City mayor.

Related pages

• Duterte fist