Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte allayed fears that Filipinos will become zombies subservient to a dictator should he become president as he vowed to shun undemocratic governance.
On Saturday, Duterte told members of the Rotary Club convention in Butuan City that he is a dictator—but this is because he will dictate the tempo of his governance.
“Diktador ako (Me a dictator)? Of course! (But) I will have to dictate the tempo of my governance,” Duterte said.
“I will never, never, never rule a country with so many zombies around,” he vowed.
READ: Duterte: Yes, I’m a dictator, so what?
The feisty mayor, who is currently in third place in preference polls behind frontrunner Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe, has been criticized for his iron-fisted method of governance in his city.
He has often repeated that he is willing to mobilize the military and police to fight illegal drugs and criminality.
READ: Duterte favors public executions of criminals
In the first presidential debate held in Cagayan de Oro City last month, Duterte said that he will fix the ills faced by the country within the first six months of his presidency.
“This is an imposed restriction for me. I am not just trying to impress you,” he said.
He has also shot down calls to declare another Martial Law in the country. JE
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