Duterte vows strong leadership to end country’s woes

Presidential candidate Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.
(Photo: Rody Duterte/Facebook)

MANILA—PDP-LABAN standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte vowed a “strong leadership” to end the country’s woes.

“I will tell you now that I can provide leadership. In three to six months, you will feel the positive effects of my campaign against corruption, criminality and drugs. We have to protect the children, we have to end drugs, and drugs must be suppressed,” Duterte said during his closing statements at the second leg of the Pilipinas Debates Sunday at the University of the Philippines in Cebu City.

Duterte’s running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, stressed that of all the presidential candidates, it was only the former who showed political will and strength of character to end the cycle of corruption in government.

On the issue of high cost of power in the country, Duterte said he plans to open the market for other energy companies to provide cheap electricity if victorious in the May 9 polls.

The former Davao City mayor also stressed that having more energy firms will increase competition and help reduce electricity prices.

When asked if he intends to honor a United Nations request that the Philippines reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent, Duterte said the country is willing to comply with its international obligations but stressed the UN should also sanction first-world or industrialized countries that contributed largely to global pollution.

“It doesn’t have to be only us. Because we have noticed that those in the heavy industries are the first world countries. That is my objection to them, they can’t even suggest to their own government to stop it,” Duterte said.