During a press conference in Davao on Saturday, Duterte suggested he might form a ticket with his son, Sebastian Duterte, the current mayor. He dismissed rumors of a potential Senate run, citing his age and the challenges of a nationwide campaign. This announcement comes despite earlier statements from his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, that he and his sons Paolo and Sebastian would seek Senate seats.
The Duterte family's political moves come amid growing tensions with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The two powerful political clans, representing the northern Luzon and southern Mindanao regions, had formed an alliance during the 2022 elections when Marcos and Sara Duterte ran successfully as a ticket for president and vice president, respectively.