Philippine presidential frontrunner vows to kill his children if they take drugs as poll lead grows
Interesting character -
The crime-fighting mayor who has emerged as surprise frontrunner in presidential elections has said that he would kill his own children if he discovered they were taking illegal drugs.
Even before the last presidential debate, there was little doubt about the strongman reputation of Rodrigo Duterte, who has promised mass killing of suspected criminals after supporting vigilante gangs in his home city of Davao.
And the mayor, who proudly goes by the nicknames “The Punisher” and “Duterte Harry”, burnished those credentials when he vowed to kill his offspring if they used narcotics.
In the first survey taken since his latest controversial remark, his support surged six points to 33 per cent, giving him a nine per cent lead over Senator Grace Poe, his closest contender in the five-candidate field.
He has sometimes come under fire from human rights activists for his expression of support for alleged death squads in Davao City.
He has previously said would dispose of the bodies of criminals in Manila Bay so that the “fish will grow fat”.
“The drug pushers, kidnappers, robbers, find them all and arrest them,” he told supporters later at a rally. “If they resist, kill them all. Go ahead and charge me with murder, so I could also kill you.”
In the predominantly Roman Catholic country, many observers expected his ratings to dip after a video was made public of his offensive joke on the hustings.
Philippine presidential candidates (L-R) Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, and former interior secretary Mar Roxas Credit: AFP
To laughter from the crowd, he said that an Australian missionary murdered in a jail riot that he helped end in Davao in 1989 was so beautiful that he wished he had been the first in line to rape her.
After two days of growing condemnation, he apologised for the remark. But he also further impressed his devoted followers by threatening to sever relations with traditional allies Australia and America after their ambassadors expressed outrage.
Mr Duterte has drawn support for anti-crime platform and his reputation as a “clean” politician in a country plagued by violence, drug use and corruption. His roots in the populous southern region of Mindanao have also bolstered his campaign amid popular disenchantment with the Manila-based political elite.
Could this be another Donald Trump in the making ?
blueshift: Many politicians try to make points with cheap shots. they appeal to a certain mentality and demographic
He needs better material for his stand up comedy.
These days, comedians use tragedy as a subject of jokes, but when a missionary who's devoted her life to helping the less fortunate is brutally pack raped an murdered, he could at least wait till her body is cold before making jokes about how much fun it would be to rape her. That's just disturbing.
In courts cases are running for 2 - 3 - 4 decades ........ that too is similar to the situation ........... this gentleman has a clear path .......... what ever ..............
Tackling crime & corruption with an iron fist is one thing but this blatant disregard for human life is not a trait any leader should possess.
britexpat: A man who says he is ready to murder his kids if they turn to narcotics is a lunatic. Someone should tell him there are options like counselling, rehab centers etc.
He promises mass killing of criminals on the basis of suspicion and not conviction, plus he believes in vigilante system of justice.
How can such a man be "elected" to represent a country?
Just a rhetoric.
You don't need to kill people, just educate them.
shuaibh: Is he any different in his approach than Trump. Perhaps they need someone who is willing to take on crime head on
Looks like a lunatic to me. I hope Filipinos get smart and not elect such a man to represent their country.
He needs a good platform ........................
Sounds like my type of guy - a nice change from the film stars
He has a vision ................