Philippines’ president-elect Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted friendly relations with China and confirmed he was open to direct talks over a territorial row in the South China Sea that has damaged bilateral ties, as he seeks to normalise ties after a strident election campaign that is marked at times, with anti-Chinese rhetoric.
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TV network ABS-CBN also quoted him as telling reporters in Davao late Sunday that he plans to ban the use of luxury cars among his Cabinet members and will use his personal pickup truck as his official presidential vehicle.
The party said in its statement that it anticipates Duterte’s offer would be followed by peace negotiations in which key policy changes could be discussed thoroughly, because he knows “that what is more important to the revolutionary forces are the necessary changes in the policies and programs that govern these departments and the entire government”.
Communists killed three soldiers in the central Philippines on Saturday, according to the military, in the first outbreak of deadly violence between the two sides since Duterte’s election win. “The only reason there is peace and order in Davao is because of me”, Duterte told Time in 2002, a claim backed by a lowered crime rate – and a public record of apparent human rights abuses.
Duterte has yet to be officially proclaimed by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), but the partial and unofficial count of votes has shown him having a clear lead over nearest rival, administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas III.
Duterte said he will restore the death penalty, which was suspended in 2006, and allow police to shoot on sight people suspected of involvement in organized crime.
“I will hit hard on drugs and I promise them [criminals] hell”, Duterte said as he outlined his vision for the nation.
Duterte pledged during the campaign to kill tens of thousands criminals, angering his critics but impressing tens of millions of Filipinos fed up with crime and corruption.
From his 22 years as mayor to the presidential campaign trail, Duterte has never minced words about his deadly objective for criminals. “Makamura ako niyan (It will save me money)”, he said.
He also said he will launch a major military offensive to destroy Abu Sayyaf extremists on southern Jolo Island, even if their human rights are trampled in the process. He assumes office at the end of next month.
His key pitch to voters was a “war on crime”, which he says will involve reintroducing capital punishment.
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According to him, he wanted closer ties with China and would not follow the footsteps of his predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, who opted to bring the maritime dispute to an global court of arbitration instead of holding direct talks with the other country. “It’s true. If you [criminals] fight, I will have a sniper shoot you”, he said.
