CEBU CITY, Philippines – Though popular presidential bets Rodrigo Duterte and Jejomar Binay may have some things in common, the Davao City mayor highlighted one major difference on Thursday, January 7.

“He has some exceedingly good traits which I don’t have. And Binay, is of course, verily, shorter than me. How long I can dig in my pockets, magkaiba rin kami (we are also different there),” Duterte told reporters during his visit to Cebu City.

He said this after being told that comparisons were being made between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

WATCH: Rodrigo #Duterte on being compared to VP Jejomar #Binay #PHVote pic.twitter.com/IgHwiYuEIs

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) January 7, 2016

After all, both rose to fame as local government leaders: Binay as Makati mayor and Duterte as Davao City mayor.

The two presidential candidates have also been doing well in recent election surveys. Binay topped a December Pulse Asia poll while Duterte was in second place, tied with Senator Grace Poe.

Davao City vs Makati

Duterte’s running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also brushed off comparisons between the two politicians.

“What’s your experience of Vice President Binay? He has outstanding projects but he’s also outstanding in corruption. So if you want someone with experience and corruption allegations, there’s that candidate. So you tell me: do you want Mayor Duterte or Vice President Binay?” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Though both can claim to have improved their cities during their terms, he said Duterte faced a much bigger challenge in Davao City.

WATCH: Alan Peter #Cayetano on comparing #Binay and #Duterte, two famous mayors running for president #PHVote pic.twitter.com/YTZnimGJNv

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) January 7, 2016

For one thing, the Mindanao city is a lot bigger than Makati, a business hub in Metro Manila.

“People don’t realize that Davao is 3 times bigger than the whole Metro Manila. So if the Mayor of Makati can be vice president, what more for a mayor of 30 years [of a city] that was how many times bigger than Makati?” asked the senator from Taguig City.

A quick check shows that Davao City stretches over 2,444 square kilometers. Makati covers 22 square kilometers and Metro Manila, 639 square kilometers.

Peace and order

Unlike Duterte, Binay did not have to deal with armed conflict as mayor of Makati.

“People don’t realize that the problem Davao faced, the insurgency from both the Left and the Muslim rebels, were never faced by Metro Manila. Napakabigat na ng experience ni Mayor Duterte (Mayor Duterte has had plenty of experience),” continued Cayetano.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Davao City was known as the “killing fields” and “murder capital” because of the almost daily killings, some done in broad daylight, in Davao’s streets.

Duterte, first elected mayor in 1988, ran on a peace and order platform. His 22-year mayorship has been credited for making Davao City one of the safest in the country.

But a 2009 Human Rights Watch report alleges that he, at best tolerated, at worst supported, vigilante-style killings of criminals by a Davao Death Squad. 

Binay is said to have improved social services in Makati City. But he and other members of his family face allegations of corruption. – Rappler.com