“All of these are just platforms. I will tell you now that I can provide leadership.”
This was the closing statement of presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte during the second Presidential Debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), held at the University of the Philippines Cebu on March 20.
“In 3-6 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,” the tough-talking mayor added.
Duterte’s running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, stressed that of all the presidential candidates, it was only Duterte who showed political will and strength of character to end the cycle of corruption in government.
“Of all the candidates in the second presidential debate, only Mayor Duterte has the moral ascendancy to speak about corruption. VP Binay is obviously corrupt, Secretary Mar Roxas is representing a government marred by corruption, and Senator Grace Poe has yet to prove her independence from shady political figures perceived to hold suasion over her,” said Cayetano.
During the first half of the debate, Duterte reiterated the challenge he issued with Cayetano to their fellow candidates to waive their bank secrecy rights and bare their bank accounts.
Duterte also urged Vice President Jejomar Binay to produce a copy of his waiver, which the Vice President failed to present.
“I would like to be very frank with the Vice President. Sir, marami kayong kaso (ng korapsyon) sa COA. Ang tanong ko, if you can produce (a bank secrecy waiver)… pirmahan natin ‘yan. At kung may kasong mapatunayan laban sa atin, we should withdraw from the presidential derby,” Duterte asserted./DC-HQ
