Duterte, in a press conference late Monday night, said he was puzzled why the Comelec included him in the list of those invited to the Feb. 21 presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro, when it still has not resolved the disqualification cases filed against him.
“Please ask them (Comelec) why they included me in the debate. How sure are they that I am a candidate?” he told reporters.
The mayor also warned inter-agency operatives against pushing a “fabricated” raids aimed at showing his alleged failure to control illegal drug operations in Davao City, which might lessen his chances of winning the May polls.
“Do not ever fabricate to destroy me. I will really go after you. I will kill you,” he said, referring to the operatives who have recently arrived in the city to stage a raid on a supposed shabu laboratory.
But on Monday night, the mayor said he would go to the Cagayan de Oro City debate but only if the Comelec declared him a legitimate presidential candidate.
“If I go there and they later disqualify me, that would make look like a fool,” he said.
“You (Comelec) resolve the cases first. Why invite me when you are not sure if I am a candidate,” he added.
The mayor also called on his political rivals to spare the careers of Davao City police chief Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. and Task Force Davao commander Col. Cristobal Zaragosa, who both appeared with him at the press conference.
Meanwhile, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban (PDP-Laban) also reminded its party members of their official candidates – Duterte for president and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano for vice president – amid the sprouting of splinter groups that support other VP bets.
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