He also confirmed that he’s open to direct talks over the South China Sea issue.
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“I offer my hand in peace to Sison and to others and we can talk”, Duterte told the news conference in Davao, where he has remained since a May 9 election for which an unofficial vote count shows him a clear victor.
Duterte said Sunday his “shoot-to-kill” orders would be given for those involved in organised criminals or who resisted arrest.
“If you resist, show violent resistance, my order to police (will be) to shoot to kill. You have to forward it to me, and I will ask you why it took you more than three days to process the papers”, he added.
On Monday, Duterte announced a Singapore-style war on anti-social behavior that includes a crackdown on smoking and drinking alcohol in public places, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Now, with his path to national leadership cemented, Duterte still appears to be in favor of a strong anti-crime measures, and of reinstating capital punishment for severe transgressions such as rape, trafficking, and murder, within the bounds of law or without.
While recognizing that some of his objectives, such as shifting the country to a federal system, would take years, he said improving everyday behavior could happen within weeks. “It’s true. If you (criminals) fight, I will have a sniper shoot you”.
Both Jalandoni and Sison said no guerrillas would actually serve in Duterte’s cabinet prior to reaching a political settlement, when the insurgents hoped to lay down arms and join a coalition government.
During campaigning last month, Duterte had offered to jet ski to a disputed area of the sea and plant the nation’s flag on China’s reclaimed airport.
“We need legislation for that”, he said.
“I would rather be friendly with everybody”, he said.
“I am now asking them to stop it”, he said.
The tough-talking 71-year-old Duterte, who was elected on May 9 on a populist platform, has been accused by rights groups of running vigilante death squads in his home city of Davao, which he has ruled for most of the past two decades. Even people perceived to have a connection with the mayor are being approached by those who want to get “in” to the Duterte camp – even though they have been known to favor the yellow color at the height of the campaign season.
There were about 3,200 fighters of the New People’s Army – the armed wing of the Communist Party – at the end of 2014, the Philippine Star has reported, citing military data.
The incoming president has made it clear that he is no friend of human rights groups and corruption watchdogs that investigate the police’s battles against criminal gangs.
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The Philippines had one police officer for every 651 people in 2012, according to official data.
