Duterte pegs economy on peace and order; businessmen want details

Instead of dazzling business leaders with his economic agenda, presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte discusses his fight against criminality and his virility at the Makati Business Club forum on Wednesday. EDWIN BACASMAS / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Leading presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday anchored his economic platform on establishing law and order, but the chair of the Makati Business Club (MBC) said the mayor failed to detail his economic plans.

Duterte was the guest at the MBC Presidential Dialogue at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City.

Duterte, known for his habitual tardiness, arrived on time and delivered an almost one and a half hour speech.

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“Relax, I am not the man I am portrayed to be by some,” the tough-talking local executive said as he started his speech.

But before he could go on and present his economic platform, Duterte asked his executive assistant, Christopher “Bong” Go, to hand him his prepared speech.

The mayor read his speech for a while before shifting to discussing his platforms about criminality, illegal drugs and corruption.

He reiterated his commitment to stop criminality and illegal drugs within the first six months of his administration, if he wins in the May election.

“Progress cannot happen in a place where there is criminality and lawlessness,” he said.

He vowed to increase the salary of policemen and soldiers once he gets elected into office.

“I will increase salary for our police to fight criminality,” he said.

He said the current salary of policemen led them to engage in extortion and illegal drugs.

He said his presidency would be “bloody” as he warns criminals to stop their illegal activities.

But he also warned policemen to shape up.

“I slap people in public, especially erring policemen. I can even challenge them to a duel. I am a gunfighter,” he said.

Top priorities

Aside from peace and order, Duterte vowed to continue infrastructure projects of the government, which got stalled due to lack of political will.

“We have to continue with public spending and we have to continue the projects that will ease up congestion in traffic,” he said.

To uplift the lives of poor Filipinos, he said he would increase scholarship for poor children to continue their schooling.

He vowed to use billions in earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, or Pagcor, for the hospitalization of indigent Filipinos.

Duterte continued with his speech talking about womanizing, mistresses, annulment, which drew laughter from the crowd.

He occasionally laced his statements with cuss words, spewing expletives at least eight times.

Uncertain

MBC chair Ramon del Rosario Jr. said his fellow businessmen might still be “uncertain” on Duterte.

“Duterte did not detail his economic plans,” Del Rosario told reporters after the event.

“Kasi nga hindi napag-usapan iyong mga gusto kong dapat pag-usapan. Ang gusto ko sana pag-usapan ay iyong mga economic policies and programs niya,” he added.

Del Rosario said the business leaders did not hear enough about the tough-talking mayor’s economic plans.

”I think there is still uncertainty because we did not hear enough what he plans to do with the economy,” he said.

Del Rosario said the presidential dialogue was the first time business leaders listened to the platforms of Duterte.

“We really never got a chance to know him. We don’t know who his advisers are. It is in that sense that there is some degree of uneasiness and uncertainty,” the businessman said, adding that traders could adapt a “wait and see attitude.”

But “that is not to say that we are predicting negative things about him,” Del Rosario said.

In previous interviews and speaking engagements, Duterte admitted that he was not an expert on economic policies, but said that he has sought advice from economists on his plans.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano came to the defense of Duterte. Cayetano said the mayor’s platforms on peace and order and education were linked to economic development.

“Businessmen here, some of them are expecting … can I be blunt… na punasan o halikan ang pwet nila. Hindi iyon ang style ni Mayor Duterte,” said Cayetano, runningmate of Duterte.

“Mayor Duterte is here to represent the Filipino people and he told them firsthand that if yung businesses ninyo will serve the Filipino people, go ahead. Pero if your businesses will only cater to you, hindi. So, talagang may disappointment,” Cayetano said.

The senator said Duterte was not a micro-manager and would let his economic chief and finance secretary to manage his economic policies.

But despite uncertainties on Duterte’s economic plans, Del Rosario said they were ready to work with the mayor if he wins the presidency.

“I think the important thing is for him to accept our friendship and support, and that we have the opportunity to work together if he does become our president,” Del Rosario said.

“We hope it will be a relationship of cooperation and friendship, rather than one of animosity and adversity,” he added.

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