Provocative politician Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to end crime and eliminate corruption
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte
Davao: Incendiary Philippine politician Rodrigo Duterte yesterday vowed a relentless crackdown on crime after claiming a landslide presidential victory built on foul-mouthed populist tirades that exposed deep voter anger at the establishment.
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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Pics/AFP
The 71-year-old firebrand stormed to victory in Monday’s election, securing an insurmountable lead of nearly six million votes over his nearest rival. Duterte, the long time mayor of the southern city of Davao, captivated Filipinos with vows of brutal but quick solutions to crime and poverty, while offering himself as a decisive strongman capable of resolving a host of other deeply entrenched problems in society.
“It’s with humility, extreme humility, that I accept this, the mandate of the people,” Duterte said early on Tuesday morning as the
results came in. “I feel a sense of gratitude to the Filipino people.
Duterte vowed to push through on the central plank of his campaign platform – ending crime across the nation within six months and eliminating corruption. “I will do it (fight drugs), even if they say I am an executioner,” said Duterte.