Duterte warns politicians

DAVAO CITY - President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to order the arrest of any political candidates who would resort to violence and coercion during the election period.

“Tandaan ninyo, hindi kami papayag sa gobyerno na magkaroon ng terrorism sa eleksyon. Wala kaming kinakampihan. We will enforce the law to make the elections peaceful,” he said as he urged candidates running for the May 9 polls to follow the rule of law and refrain from sowing chaos to gain advantage during the remainder of the election period.

Duterte also warned politicians from using private armies, telling them to limit the number of armed guards based on the so-called “Alunan Doctrine,” referring to former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III who introduced the Alunan Doctrine, which deems two or more armed persons to be a private army that should be disarmed by the government.

“I’ have communicated this to the Cabinet that ang rules should really be followed, ‘yung Alunan Doctrine na lang. Mas maganda ‘yun. That more than two bodyguards would be considered a private army,” he said, warning those who will be found violating the policy would run the risk of being arrested and prosecuted.

“Kaming taga-gobyerno na naiwan, who are not candidates anyway and who are out of job by two months from now, mayroon kaming trabaho. Ang trabaho namin is to keep order dito sa bayan natin na para plastado lahat. There must be peace, there must be law and order,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)