Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte again slammed Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II for demanding that the mayor face him in a debate because he was just a “Cubao leader” and did not qualify as a “world-class leader” as suggested by former President Fidel V. Ramos.
“I’m already a global leader. Mar is just a Cubao leader. Who is he to demand a debate?” Duterte told reporters in Davao City on Tuesday.
“I would like to tell everybody that when you become a candidate for president, you must stop fooling around because that won’t do any good before other nations, diplomats and foreign leaders,” Duterte said.
Duterte was apparently referring to the earlier advice of Ramos that the two presidential aspirants, who have been publicly lashing at each other over the past few days, to act as “world-class leaders” instead of street thugs.
Roxas had earlier said in Baybay City there won’t be a Christmas truce between him and Duterte if the Davao mayor keeps on insisting that Roxas was not a real alumni of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Roxas is a scion of the powerful Araneta clan, which owns the 35-hectare commercial complex Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
Also on Tuesday, Duterte thanked world champion boxer Nonito Donaire for supporting his bid for the presidency.
“At least I already have a boxer. The other one is with the other camp,” Duterte said, referring to eight-division boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who is also running for the Senate under the slate of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Duterte said he continues to support Pacquiao even if he aligned himself with Binay. “I’ve known him long time. Our friendship will transcend political lines and I will still support him,” Duterte said.