MANILA, February 26 (Xinhua), — Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine President, stated that he has asked security forces to create an environment conducive for fair and honest elections to be held on May 9th.
“The military and police will see that the men mandated in the Constitution, upon them shoulders, will produce an honest election,” the 76 years old Philippine leader stated in a television interview Friday night.
Duterte promised to ensure peace during the election so that voters can freely vote for their preferred candidates and that politicians don’t resort to intimidation in order to win the vote.
Duterte also said he preferred to remain neutral on presidential candidates who will be replacing him on June 30.
Duterte stated that he would retire from politics and that he could always give advice to anyone who asked.
Duterte, who was elected president in 2016, promised to “place everything in order.”
“As I said, at campaign’s beginning (in 2016),… He said, “I will try to make the country comfortable for you.”
At least 67.5 million Filipinos are registered to vote, which includes 1.8 million overseas voters. They will elect a new president and vice president, along with about 300 legislators, and more than 18,000 positions as local officials.
There are 10 presidential candidates, and nine vice-presidential candidates. According to surveys Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64-year-old son of Ferdinand Marcos, leads the opinion polls.
Duterte is bidding to become the vice president of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s running-mate, Sara Duterte -Carpio, Sara Duterte’s child.
