MANILA, Philippines — Less than a week before the May 13 elections, President Rodrigo Duterte urged all candidates to respect the stand of the electorate and allow them to vote freely.
“This is for my candidates and for the opposition: Everybody’s stand or position must be respected. That is the rule in this country. This is a democracy,” Duterte said during the campaign rally of PDP-Laban in Bohol Wednesday night.
Before flying to Bohol, the President went to Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, a town placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to poll-related killings.
READ: Duterte vows justice for slain kin of Negros town vice mayor
READ: Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental placed under Comelec control
Duterte said he confronted a mayor there who is “really the suspect of everybody.”
“Pero you know, if you create so much problem for everybody you might find yourself the ultimate solution. So you just be careful, allow everybody to vote freely, this is a democracy. This is an exercise or the right of the people to choose their leader,” he said.
“Iyan ang mandato ng Constitution natin (That is the mandate of our Constitution), so we just follow,” he added.
The President, however, did not identify the local official he was referring to.
Duterte also reiterated his call for the military and the police to remain neutral during the election period.
“I made a commitment that ‘yung mga sa Armed Forces at ang mga pulis must be neutral pati ako (I made a commitment that the Armed Forces and the police must be neutral, including me),” he said. /ee