Duterte’s party mate is new Davao City vice mayor

DAVAO CITY, Philippines —The position vacated by presidential son Paolo Duterte will now be occupied by Councilor Bernard Echavez Al-ag. 

Al-ag took his oath Wednesday afternoon, January 10, as vice mayor of the city.

He was sworn into office by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio at around 4:50 pm Wednesday. He was accompanied by his family.

A councilor representing the city’s 3rd legislative district, Al-ag got only the 3rd highest number of votes among the councilors, but his votes represented the highest percentage (against the votes in his district) compared to the topnotchers in the first and second districts.

He was part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s  lineup of candidates under his local party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod.

Al-ag is on his last term as councilor of his legislative district, which covers Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, Toril, and Tugbok – all situated on the city’s outskirts.  

He previously sat as acting mayor in 2016 when Sara Duterte filed for a leave. 

Who is Bernard Al-ag?

The council’s majority floor leader graduated from Centro Escolar University. 

In his LinkedIn profile, Al-ag wrote he placed top 7 in the national board exam for optometry.

“I don’t consider this as a springboard to any position. But I consider this as a disruption of my plan. Because my plan really is to end in 2019 and return to my private life,” he had said in a previous press conference. 

He entered politics in 2010. 

Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte resigned as vice mayor during a special session last Christmas, saying delicadeza dictated that he quit his post after his name was dragged in controversies, particularly his spat with his daughter on social media and the allegations that he was involved in the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs from China. 

President Duterte accepted his resignation on January 5. – Rappler.com