Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that he cannot assure peaceful elections on May 9.

“I cannot guarantee you that it will be peaceful. There will be one or two or three,” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Sonshine Media Network International on March 12,

“And even here in Mindanao. I mean, even the warring factions in Cotabato. I told them that I will not allow terrorism in the election. I will not allow violence. Just campaign,” he added.

The president warned that he will go to areas where violence is reported.

“I will go to areas ruled by so-called warlords. Believe me, I’ll go there,” stressed Duterte.

The 2022 Philippine presidential and vice presidential elections are scheduled to be held on Monday, May 9, as part of the 2022 general election.

This will be the 17th direct presidential election and 16th vice presidential election in the Philippines since 1935, and the sixth sextennial presidential and vice presidential election since 1992.

Duterte is ineligible for re-election as he is limited to a single term, under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The position of president and vice president are elected separately; the two winning candidates could thus come from different political parties.

The 2022 presidential election will be the first where all candidates for president were born after World War II ended.

PHILIPPINES DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK