- Title: Tough-talking mayor Rodrigo Duterte bears plans for his presidency
- Date: 16th May 2016
- Summary: DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES (MAY 16, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** EXTERIOR OF ESTABLISHMENT WHERE PRESIDENT-ELECT RODRIGO DUTERTE IS TEMPORARILY TAKING OFFICE SIGN READING: "MATINA ENCLAVES" DUTERTE TAKING SEAT DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT-ELECT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "They have to realise that I am with the government and I am the enemy also, but I offer my hand in peace to Sison and the rest, and we can talk. I mentioned the positions that are available to you. You can join the several positions in the government and government corporations." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT-ELECT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "I will control drugs, I will control crime, and I repeat the predicate of it all in my statement is: I'm willing to lose the presidency, my life and honour. This is what I promised the people and I intend to do it." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT-ELECT, RODRIGO DUTERTE, SAYING: "Heinous crimes committed with licensed firearms must be death. Rape plus death as a victim must be death penalty. Kidnapping with ransom plus killing the victim will be death penalty. Robbery with homicide with rape, double the hanging. You will be hanged first, then there will be a ceremony for the second time." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF DUTERTE EXITING NEWS CONFERENCE WHILE BEING SURROUNDED BY CROWD
- Embargoed: 31st May 2016 11:38
- Keywords: Rodrigo Duterte newser plan president president-elect death penalty maoist rebels peace
- Location: DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES
- City: DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0014I23MTH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday (May 16) he will allow maoist rebels to join his cabinet, restore death penalty and change the system of governance when assumes the presidency.
Duterte, who has yet to be officially proclaimed but assumed to be the next Philippine president, will be replacing incumbent Benigno Aquino when he steps down on June 30.
Duterte told a news conference in Davao his plan on resuming peace negotiations with maoist guerillas and giving key positions to their leaders.
"They have to realise that I am with the government and I am the enemy also, but I offer my hand in peace to Sison and the rest, and we can talk. I mentioned the positions that are available to you. You can join the several positions in the government and government corporations," he said, adding he will allow the release of political prisoners as a sign of goodwill.
The communist New People's Army has waged a guerrilla campaign in the remote provinces for more than four decades, killing more than 40,000 people and stunted the growth of resource-rich areas.
Peace negotiations has stalled for years after the Aquino government rejected the rebels' demands to release political prisoners.
The tough-talking mayor, whose main campaign platform was to eradicate crime and illegal drugs, will seek Congress to restore death penalty on heinous crimes and allow security forces to conduct shoot-to-kill orders on suspects resisting arrests.
"Heinous crimes committed with licensed firearms must be death. Rape plus death as a victim must be death penalty. Kidnapping with ransom plus killing the victim will be death penalty. Robbery with homicide with rape, double the handing. you will be hanged first, then there will be a ceremony for the second time," he said.
Duterte said his first 100 days will be concentrated in revamping the police force and eliminating crime.
He will also present a referendum on federalism in two years to resolve the decades-old rebellion in Mindanao Island, which has stunted the growth of the resource-rich region and killed more than 200,000 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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