Duterte: Call me ‘Mayor of the Philippines’

DAVAO CITY — Do not call him Mr. President. Call him Mayor of the Philippines.

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte told reporters late Sunday that he is not comfortable with being addressed as "President". Rather, he wants to retain the title he held for 22 years.

"I ask everybody to call me 'mayor' lang," he said.  "Mayor of the Philippines nga lang."

Nonetheless, his spokesperson Peter Laviña previously said that the public should sometimes formally address Duterte to respect the Office of the President.

"But as I said, you can call him by whatever name you prefer but there will be times that you have to address him officially and formally as Mr. President," he reminded.

Duterte, who will become the Philippines' 16th President by June 30, has been given several  nicknames including Digong, DU30 and Rody.

Laviña had said that they will ask netizens to help them come up with a name for the next president.

“We solicited help from the people, particularly on social media. We will let their creativity flourish. Many would call him President Digong, President Rody, President D-U-3-0 or President Duterte,” he said.

"We just let the people do it on their own. Meron daw PRRD, PRody, PGong," he added.

Speaking with members of the media on Sunday night at Hotel Elena, Duterte laid down his initial plans once he takes over the presidency.

He said he will implement a nationwide liquor and smoking ban.

Duterte also said that he will impose a curfew and will order the arrest of the parents of children who will be caught violating it.

The Davao City mayor also said that once he assumes the presidency, he will ask Congress to revive the death penalty. —ALG, GMA News