Duterte willing to lose life, presidency to fulfil vow vs crime, drugs, corruption

“I WILL do it even if I lose my life, my honor and the presidency,” said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte before thousands of his supporters in a proclamation rally in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday night.

Duterte was referring to his campaign to end criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption if elected President in the May national elections.

The tough-talking mayor arrived at his campaign launch past 7 p.m. amid the applause and chants of “Duterte, Duterte” from supporters.

Thousands of his supporters packed the intersection of Morga and Zamora streets near the Sto. Niño Church.

Duterte was with his family members but their presence did not stop him from kissing women supporters while he approached the stage.

During his speech, the tough-talking mayor laid out his platform of government.

Duterte reiterated his promise to end illegal drugs,  criminality corruption within the first six months of his administration if he wins the presidency.

“It must stop,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience.

He said he would give orders to the police to shoot criminals and drug addicts if they go against the law.

But he warned erring policemen that they would also have to face the law if they betray their duty to serve and protect the people.

To remove the temptation among members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to do unlawful activities, he promised to double their salary once elected.

He said illegal drugs is one of the major problems in the Philippines, but the government has not been doing anything to stop this.

“Drugs is our problem but the government is not doing anything,” he said.

During his speech, Duterte repeatedly use cuss words to show his disgust with the government and to sympathize with the plight of the Filipinos.

“Galit ako sa gobyerno. P*t*ng *na itong gobyerno, it is not for the people,” he said.

He mentioned the issues faced by people such as the bullet planting at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which victimizes overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

If elected president, he said he would prioritize education, agriculture, and the health sector.

He said he would continue an improved conditional cash transfer program under his administration to alleviate poverty in the country.

On tax reforms, he promised that workers with a monthly salary of less than P20, 000 would be exempted from paying their taxes.

Amid our maritime dispute with China, he asserted to fight for our territorial rights over the disputed sea.

“If kunin talaga nila ang Spratly, puputulin ko talaga ang ulo nila,” he said.

But Duterte earlier said that he is open to a joint exploration over the gas-rich West Philippine Sea while our diplomatic protest is being heard at the United Nations Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.

In governance, Duterte praised the leadership of former President Ferdinand Marcos, saying he was the best president had he not stayed in power for too long.

He said he would copy the former strongman’s “Masagana 99” and “Biyaya ng Dagat.”

Duterte also pushed for federalism as a way to achieve peace in Mindanao and equally distribute the resources of the government acrossthe Philippines.

After his speech, Duterte formally took his oath as the new chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP-Laban).

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