Duterte assures ‘non-partisan’ in 2019 polls

CEBU CITY - President Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that there will be no partisan politics in next year’s midterm elections.

Duterte, who was recently in Cebu for a conference of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP), also guaranteed that the polls would be fair, honest and orderly as he warned politicians against using guns, gold and goons to win the elections.

“I will guarantee it all throughout the Philippines. The voting will be done fairly, cleanly, and honestly. Walang partido-partido. Your vote will be counted and it will be counted correctly. That I can assure you,” Duterte said.

“You start to have a private army, one morning you will see me in front of you. Kalaban mo diyan ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and I promise you this. During the elections, there will be no private armies. All will be disarmed,” he added.

But Duterte also assured that he will campaign for local chief executives who have been outstanding in implementing their peace and order programs. He said all he can do is to campaign for the outstanding mayors as he has no money to give them for their campaign coffers.

Duterte also urged the mayors to improve their performance as local chief executives and avoid corruption. “You have to improve your performance as mayor. You are representing me as president of your own republic. So, you have to enforce the law against all,” he said.

He said the government will support mayors if they ever face complaints in the implementation of their anti-drug campaigns. “If you do your duty and you will have a case against you just like the police, I will support and defend you,” Duterte said.

During his speech, Duterte also warned policemen, soldiers and members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency involved in illegal drugs. “For a law enforcer to engage in illegal drugs trade is tantamount to treason. That’s treason. If you are a PDEA (member), or with the military and the police, but engage in illegal drugs, that’s treason. It’s the highest form of infidelity. So, let’s have a deal. Do not do it. Do not do it during my time. Or mamatay kayo,” Duterte said.