2019 elections will be clean, Duterte vows

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday assured the public that the 2019 midterm elections would be clean and orderly.

"In this election I commit to the Filipino people that this will be a clean election," Duterte said, drawing applause from those who attended the mass oath-taking of members of the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Davao City.

Duterte even asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to "deputize" him so "there will be voting and the votes will be counted correctly."

He also vowed to implement the gun ban during election period and warned the New People's Army not to extort money from candidates in areas where they operate.

"Huwag kayong makialam kasi eleksyon 'to. Do not terrorize and I will tell the Armed Forces and the police not to interfere if you are not deputized by the Comelec," he said. 

"'Pag may narinig ako na terrorism ako mismo ang pupunta and I will enforce the law. And if I have to do it bahala kayo."

The President also said he will not support politicians who back the communist rebels.

Up for grabs for next year's polls are 12 seats in the Senate, other positions from district and party-list representatives, governors, mayors to municipal councilors. —NB, GMA News