Duterte: “I will participate in presidential debates and I am prepared to debate with themâ€
February 4, 2016
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he will now participate in presidential debates sponsored by Commission on Elections after the Comelec First Division dismissed all disqualification cases filed against him.
“I am now an official candidate, I will participate in presidential debates and I am prepared to debate with them,†Duterte said after the Comelec dismissed all the petitions filed against him.
The Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said earlier that he would not attend to the presidential debates unless the comelec declared him as official candidate for presidential race.
“I will campaign extensively and I can now accept contributions, but with certain conditions, such as the money must come from legitimate sources, and from those who have no business transactions with the government,†Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying.
A smiling Commissioner Christian Robert Lim remarked in announcing the ruling of the Comelec First Division said “The punisher will live to die another day,†referring to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte no-nonsense campaign against criminals and drug lords.
“The Comelec body has ruled that the punisher will live to die another day. It was a unanimous decision,†Commissioner Christian Robert Lim told reporters.
The poll body consolidated the petitions filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor, University of the Philippines Student Council head John Paulo de las Nieves, and disqualified presidential bets Elly Pamatong and Rizalito David.
source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
