Duterte claims communist conspiracy
President Rodrigo Duterte (MALACAÑANG PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte claimed late on Saturday that he received an intelligence report about a supposed conspiracy between communist insurgents, “yellow” forces, and another unspecified group to sow discord, especially this coming election.
“What I really am afraid of is the report of the intelligence community … There’s a sort of a grouping of communists, the yellows and another group,” he said in an interview on Sonshine Media Network International, owned by his friend, televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
“It’s that kind of situation that we in the government are watching for. They (communists) might, like I said, create trouble because they have working relations now with the yellows and the election is the objective, really,” he told Quiboloy during the interview.
After saying he was proud to end his term after bringing peace to Mindanao, the president warned “warlord” politicians or groups planning to use violence to advance their political interest in the coming elections, saying he would deal with them personally.
He particularly mentioned the warring factions in Cotabato, telling those involved: “I will not allow terrorism during the elections. I will not allow violence. Just conduct your campaigns. If [there’s violence], I will really go to you in person.”
Presidential qualities
Duterte said that while he was a politician and politics helped him win the presidency, he has never supported nor sought support from local warlords and instead worked to defeat them.
Duterte was also asked about the qualities he thinks his successor should possess and the President said Filipinos should elect as president someone who is compassionate, decisive, and a good judge of character.
He said he tried to emulate his late father who served as governor of the then-undivided province of Davao.
“If there is somebody who would ask me on what it would be, I will say, you must love the human being,” he said, recalling that his father told him that if he wanted to become a politician he should learn to “love your fellow man.”
Duterte said he showed his being compassionate to people in an “extreme” form by siding with the victims of drug addicts and peddlers when he launched his campaign against drugs when he was mayor and later President.
During Duterte’s presidency, official data showed that at least 6,000 suspected drug users were killed in police operations without charges or trial and he now faces charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.
He said the quality of being decisive meant a president should not be afraid of “repercussions” as he executes the law of the land.
He said it would be a plus factor if a president is a lawyer because he could make quick decisions and know the legal repercussions.
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