President Duterte has assured the public of the safe conduct of the May 2022 elections and warned that those who will initiate violence will be fighting against the government.
Duterte said the reason why he chose not to endorse his presidential candidate "was simply to show the people" that he is "neutral."
"Even though I have a party, pero nagdistansiya muna ako, except those mga rallies, nakita ko na mahina ‘yung mga kandidato sa PDP (I distanced myself from politics, except those rallies I attended to. I saw that PDP candidates are weak). But aside from that, over and above all of these things is the fact that we are tasked by the Constitution to see to it that the elections are in order," he said in his public address on Monday night.
"There must be peace, there must be law and order," he added as he also assured that "the government will not allow terrorism in the elections."
According to the President, he already talked to his Cabinet members to ensure that election rules are followed as well as to limit the number of security personnel of each candidate to one to avoid forming a private army.
"So kung sino man 'yung mga kandidato (Whoever candidate you are), you limit yourself. And if you think that there is danger to your person in a certain place or a certain person, ipatawag ng RD (regional director) 'yan or ipatawag ng chief of police at kausapin na iwasan lang 'yung away lalo na maggamit ng armas (you ask the regional police director or the chief of police to avoid having violence and taking up arms)," he said.
Duterte also warned that those who will initiate violence will be dealt with accordingly as he said he will not let it happen what happened in the past.
"Iyong iba diyan mag-ambush-ambush. Well, puwede man ninyong gawain 'yan pero sasabihin namin ngayon sa inyo na hindi kami papayag dito na inatasan ng (Doing ambush? You may do it, but I'm telling you now, we will not let it happen because we are tasked by the) Constitution to see to it that the elections will be fair and honest," he said.
"Inaasahan namin ho na nakikiusap ako na sundin lang ninyo ang batas kasi pag hindi, may kalaban ka. 'Yung kalaban mo sa pulitika, kalaban mo pa 'yung gobyerno, ay doble na 'yan (I'm asking you to follow the law. Otherwise, you will not only fight against your opponent, but also against your government). It will be taken against you by the people," he added.