Duterte warns 2019 candidates: Do not ‘terrorize’ voters

Pia Ranada

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Duterte warns 2019 candidates: Do not ‘terrorize’ voters
President Rodrigo Duterte also tells government personnel not to side with any candidate or party but, in the same speech, talks of the senatorial candidacy of his longtime assistant Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte warned candidates in the upcoming elections, as well as politicians and government personnel, not to “intimidate” Filipino voters into voting for them or their allies.

“I would just like to inform, I want to tell the candidates and that goes for the entire Philippines, during my watch, in my time, I will not allow you, even if you are with me in government, in my party, or if you are my enemy in politics, do not terrorize, do not intimidate, do not create fear in the voters,” he said on Monday, December 10.

Duterte was speaking at a military housing project event in San Miguel, Bulacan.

He warned he would himself arrest the candidate or politician guilty of harassing voters.

“‘Pag ginawa ‘nyo ‘yan, ako mismo pupunta doon at ako mismo mag-aresto sa ‘yo at ako mismo maghila sa inyo. Talian kita sa leeg, doon sa gilid ng eroplano,” he said.

(If you do that, I myself will go there and arrest you. I myself will pull you. I’ll tie you to an airplane.)

He then reminded his audience of soldiers about the Alunan doctrine – that more than two security personnel for a politician is considered a private army which must be disbanded.

The Commander-in-Chief also ordered all government personnel, but particularly soldiers and police, not to favor any politician, even if they are allied with the administration.

“I would like to remind everybody in government, everybody especially the Armed Forces and police. Do not take sides either for or against any party. Don’t interfere. Don’t campaign and do not favor any candidate. That is the mandate of the Constitution and we will stick by it,” he said.

Promoting Bong Go

Yet in the same speech, Duterte promoted the senatorial bid of his former special assistant Bong Go.

Duterte acknowledged Go, who was in the audience, and then asked how he would win as senator if he is not onstage.

In fact, the President almost always mentions Go and his Senate bid in his public speeches.

Last December 6, for instance, he spoke of Go’s experience as his assistant as one reason why he would make a good senator.

“Payag kayo senador? Sa totoo lang, he is one guy. He has worked for me 17 years so alam niya lahat sa gobyerno…. But if you want to run for senator, mayroon kayong isang tao na matakbuhan ninyo and who really feels for his fellowmen,” said Duterte at the labor department’s anniversary.

(Do you agree he should be senator? Truth be told, he is one guy. He has worked for me 17 years so he knows everything about government…. But if you want to run for senator, you have one person who you can run to and who really feels for his fellowmen.)

Back in October, Duterte had been late for the Philippine Army change of command ceremony because he accompanied Go when the latter filed his certificate of candidacy for senator. – Rappler.com

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Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.