President Aquino is still wary of the imminent presidency of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte due to his tendency towards dictatorship, much more if Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. becomes his vice president.
The President expressed concern that the country might plunge back to the dark years of authoritarian rule in case of a Duterte-Marcos leadership.
“In the scheme of things, it is the President that has so much power in this country, therefore if there is that tendency to be dictatorial, to disregard all of our laws, then one should fear the ascendancy of Mayor Duterte,” the President said in an interview with CNN Philippines Wednesday night.
“On an extended scale, if they both have that tendency, then you see the potential for perpetuating the type of system which has failed so miserably just 30 years ago,” Aquino added.
Duterte, known for his tough anti-crime campaign, is poised to become the country’s next president after gaining more than 15 million votes in the partial and unofficial count of the Commission on Elections.
The incoming leader has promised to be a dictator against forces of evil such as criminality, drugs, and corruption in government. His camp also disclosed plans of Duterte to impose a late-night liquor ban and a nationwide curfew for minors.