Duterte: I won’t debate with Number 4

DAVAO CITY, Philippines  – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday said a debate with Manuel Roxas II would be possible only if the administration candidate improves his rankings in surveys.

“If he wants a debate with me, maybe he should make it to No. 2 in the surveys. He wants a debate but he is No. 4… he should at least improve his ratings first,” Duterte said. 

Duterte made this condition before entering into a debate with Roxas.

Roxas had earlier challenged Duterte to a debate on different issues affecting government. 

But Duterte said any debate with Roxas would not make sense if the Liberal Party presidential candidate is faring poorly in the survey ratings.

The two had been in a word war since earlier this month.

The word war turned into a slapping challenge and even to the point of a possible gun duel. 

The proposal to debate came out after cooler heads prevailed upon the two presidential aspirants. 

“Ayaw ko, mayabang siya (I don’t want to, he is arrogant),” Duterte said of Roxas who said the peace and order situation in Davao City is a myth, which the mayor did not take lightly. 

Duterte retorted by saying Roxas is not a graduate of the Wharton School of Economics, contrary to his claims regarding educational background.

Duterte stressed he is not so keen on debating with Roxas whom he described as a liar. 

“He is a liar. I do not want to debate with him,” Duterte added. 

Mar chides Digong

Roxas, on the other hand, chided Duterte for refusing to accept his challenge.

“Perhaps those are the words of a person who backs down. It was he who challenged me to a slapping match. I said I am ready but what did he say? He refused. I challenged him to a fistfight. He also refused. He challenged me to a debate and now I accepted but he refused again,” Roxas said in a chance interview in Leyte.

“What do you call that?” he added.

Duterte said he would only get into debates once the campaign period starts. 

“I am ready for any debate as long it would already be campaign period. I can debate on any issue, anytime, anywhere,” he said.

Duterte vowed to do away with lavish oath-taking ceremonies should he win the presidency.

“I will take my oath not in Luneta but in my office at Malacañang to avoid traffic congestion. No lavish dinners, invited guests will have to eat first, only soft drinks and water will be served,” Duterte said

“I will also ask the guests to eat first before they come as there will be no dinner or any food to be served,” he said. 

Duterte said he would invite a small crowd of selected guests, which would include representatives from the military, the police and only a few other government officials. 

He said he will hit the ground running on his first day of office.

“There is so much work to be done. There is no time to waste. We have to keep government running even on my very first day in office as president,” he added. 

Duterte is facing a disqualification case before Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the substitution made on Martin Diño.

Diño withdrew his candidacy under the PDP-Laban party and Duterte later substituted for him.

A Comelec division allowed the substitution of Duterte as PDP-Laban presidential candidate although the Davao mayor still faces disqualification petition. 

The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) offered its party to Duterte to substitute for Augusto Syjuco who was disqualified as a nuisance candidate, according to lawyer Oliver Lozano.

Lozano said the KBL is offering its draft unity accord to Duterte.

“The unity accord will be presented to Mayor Duterte as his alternative option in case Comelec rules against his COC (certificate of candidacy),” Lozano said.

“The KBL or Syjuco will cause the withdrawal of the petition to become null and void the COC of Martin Diño for being academic after the valid substitution of KBL presidential candidate,” he added. – With Alexis Romero, Perseus Echeminada