MANILA, Philippines - Presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte on Tuesday midnight expressed openness to tirades saying he welcomes any criticisms as a public servant.
"'Yung criticisms, good or bad, true or not, is part of the territory of governance in public," Duterte said in a televised interview with Jessica Soho in GMA News.
Asked how he will handle critics like Sen. Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, Duterte said he will not hinder anyone from exercising his or her right to democracy.
"I may disagree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it. We are in a democracy," the presumptive president said.
"I'm also criticizing him now," he added.
Duterte said he will not go after his political enemies but said that he may question them.
"Maybe, when I sit as president, I will be asking, but I am not going to prosecute," Duterte said.
"I am not up to it, actually, going after political enemies," he added.
The tough-talking mayor said that if the public wants to know about any transactions in government, he will order transparency.
Duterte also assured the media that he can receive criticisms and won't go after them.
"Wala naman akong ginagawa sa kanila e so bakit sila magreklamo sa akin," Duterte said when praised for handling the Mindanao media, which Soho raised as an example.