Duterte vows clean 2019 polls, bans long firearms
President Duterte said he will not allow any form of cheating to take place during the May 2019 midterm elections and assured the public that it will be a clean election.
The President issued the assurance in Cebu City, noting that the filing of the certificates of candidacy for national and local government posts will start next month.
Duterte said that the elections will be clean for as long as he is president.
"Lakbitan na lang ta mo'g sulti ha. Hapit na man ang eleksyon, may filing na. Kaning eleksyona nga ako'y Presidente, kinahanglan limpyo gyud para sa kontra ug para sa ako, para sa akong alyado ug para sa akong kaatbang. Limpyo gyud (I’ll be frank with you. Election is almost here. And this election, while I’m President, has to be clean for the against and for me, for the opposition and my allies. Really clean)," he said.
"Di ko musugot nga kanang kaming taga-administrasyon o ako musugot og tikas ana. Mag-away ta diha. Ang Armed Forces, sundalo, ug pulis, mao na'y akong ingnon nga tan-awa ninyo (I will not allow cheating, not under this administration. We will just fight about that. I will tell the Armed Forces, soldiers, and police to look into that)," he added.
Duterte said that he will also soon prohibit local government officials and police officers from carrying long firearms, which frightens the public. He said those who will do so would have to answer to the military.
"Ug karong pila ka adlaw, di ko lang ko musugot nga kanang mga mayor ug pulis magdala-dala og armas nga tag-as. Limitado lang sila sa duha ka bodyguard-bodyguard. Naka-uniporme eh (Now in a few days – I will not allow the mayors and police to bring long arms. They are also limited to having only two bodyguards. They are wearing uniforms)," he said.
Duterte's promise of a clean election came after he encouraged people to vote for those who are not into grandstanding while urging his own Cabinet members to run for the senate.
Last week, Duterte suggested that some members of his Cabinet should run in next year's polls for their involvement in the government's efforts to address the effects of Typhoon Ompong. These include Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Political Adviser Francis Tolentino who landed one spot short to being a senator during the previous polls.
Duterte also encouraged Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año to run for senator.
Earlier this month, Duterte urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to have mercy on the country by choosing the best senatorial candidates in the 2019 polls.