Duterte to mayors: Clean your cities

President Duterte has one advice for new mayors who will be assuming their posts on June 30: Clean their cities or the government will force it on them.

In an interview Saturday in Davao City, Duterte, a former mayor himself, said being mayor is just about making sure that the city is clean.

"It's just about cleaning the city, imposing law and order, and especially drugs, and try to limit the movements of criminals from other places," he said.

"These are the things we would like to do which in the past has been there on the agenda of government. It's either they accept the present mindset of the government, or if not, we will force it upon them. There's no other choice," he added.

According to the President, the Philippines is still a democratic country but noted that democracy has good and bad effects on society.

"Yes, it is a democracy and there are things in a democracy which are bad, and there are things in a democracy which are very good. But there are bad things, too much democracy, too many rights, and the fragile crimeand-punishment story of this country is not the point of...," Duterte said.

"Either tanggapin ninyo o talagang ipalunok ko sa inyo (you accept it or I will force it on you). I have no other choice. If you want, just follow, if you want a better life, or I will enforce it on you. That has always been my paradigm even when I was mayor," he added.

President Duterte also advised those aspiring to become presidents not to covet the position and just allow fate to take over. He said this was also

the advice of his late mother.

"The presidency is a gift from God. My advice to the coming presidents: Do not covet anything and it will come to you," he said.

"Hayaan mo lang, huwag mong hingiin. Sabi niya (Nanay Soleng), pagka hiningi mo 'yan sa sarili mo, patay ka. Hingin mo 'yan sa Diyos. At kung ipagpapala ka ng Diyos, ibibigay sa 'yo (Just let things happen, don't ask for it. My mother said if you ask it for yourself, you're doomed. Pray for it and if God allows it, it will happen)," he added.