PDP-Laban Presidential candidate and survey frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that if ever he wins this election he would be the first left-leaning president. This was reported by GMA News Online.
However, he said he is not a member of communist party or the New People’s Army (NPA) adding that he cannot join them because he is for democracy. NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Mayor Duterte added that he was a member of Bayan.
He also said that he did not dare Australia and United States to sever ties with Philippines. “I didn’t say that,” he said as quoted by the Manila Bulletin.
He explained that he just aired his misgivings about the Australia and US’ ambassadors statements regarding the mayor’s controversial statement about an Australian rape-slay victim.
Meanwhile, Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas earlier hit Duterte’s support on revolutionary taxes and NPA’s charging of permits to campaign.
“We will use the full force of the law—the law, and not lethal force—so that we can protect our democracy. Here it is, Mayor Duterte, the communists, the NPA represent the ultimate challenge to our democratic system and way of life,” Roxas said.
“I will fight it because our democracy, our freedom, our economic system, is important and are giving a better life to millions upon millions of families. I do not say the system is perfect but it is one that can give a better life to our countrymen,” he added.