MANILA, Philippines – Finish me if I fail.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte made the call urging Filipinos to kill him if he cannot resolve heinous crimes and illegal drugs within the first six months of his administration if elected president.
“If I succeed perhaps that would be my greatest contribution to the country, but if I fail, kill me,” Duterte told the crowd during a book launching Thursday at Century Park Hotel in Manila.
Should he succeed, Duterte said his next plan is to work on “inclusive nation building.”
Duterte said he would do his best to defeat crime and illegal drugs even if it will cost him his honor and life.
He maintained killing criminals and drug syndicates is the best way to secure the country.
“The best way for everybody, for their own good and for the good of this nation, is to stop it, but I won’t allow them to succeed, [in] three to six months I will finish it,” he said.
Duterte said he would not allow drug cartels to operate in the country and gave assuance the Philippines will not become “Asia’s Mexico” which he said has become a “narco-state.”
He said the Philippines has no place for “El Chapos,” referring to Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, who was recaptured after six months on the run following his escape from prison.
Duterte’s running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, said they have made a comprehensive plan and strategy against illegal drugs.
“With the help of the people, we will end the reign of drug lords and make our streets safe again for our people,” he said.
Duterte said the country’s crime situation, particularly drug trafficking, has become so dire that bold solutions and swift actions are needed.
“We will not allow our country to become a narco-state like some countries in Latin America. We will reclaim our streets from the drug lords and criminals who have made them unsafe. We will bring the war to their doorsteps. If they want to play rough, I will redefine to them the meaning of rough,” Duterte said.
Duterte admitted in earlier interviews that he personally finished off some suspected criminals in Davao City in 1988.
On the bullet planting scandal at the airport, Duterte warned corrupt airport personnel that he would not hesitate to force them to eat the bullets.
“You better choose the smaller caliber, the .22, it would be easier to swallow,” he said.
Duterte said his strong conviction against criminality should not strike fear in the public, “especially if you are a law abiding citizen,” saying he would only run after criminals, drug syndicates and corrupt officials. – With Mike Frialde, Edith Regalado