By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA, the Philippines (AA) – Philippines president-in-waiting Rodrigo Duterte announced Friday plans to implement nationwide some of the regulations that won his repute as a southern mayor, while also continuing some of the economic policies of outgoing leader Benigno Aquino III.
“The economy is doing good under the Aquino administration,” news website InterAksyon quoted the outspoken mayor of Davao City — a major bustling city in the south — as saying.
“We will have to admit it is doing well. And if it’s not really broken, why should I fix it?” he added. “I would hire Cabinet members who are good, then allow them enough time to come up with something that would equal or maybe enhance more the economic policies of Aquino.”
Addressing criticisms that some in the business community may find him lacking in expertise, Duterte said he had never presented himself as “an economic genius”.
“As a matter of fact, I am not a graduate of Wharton,” he said, referring to the business school at the University of Pennsylvania. “My parents can not afford that. I am just a lawyer, a prosecutor, perhaps.”
Among the notable alumni of Wharton is United States presidential candidate Donald Trump, to whom some media have compared Duterte.
The presumptive Philippine president also underlined Friday that he would consider implementing nationwide some of the restrictions in Davao City, where he has served as mayor for 22 years.
Among them are bans on public smoking, and the selling of alcohol and the operation of entertainment spots past midnight.
Vowing during the campaign trail to crush criminalities and run after corrupt government officials, Duterte, set to become the 16th president and first from the south, captured the presidency by a large majority of votes May 9.
He is still not yet officially proclaimed president as the canvassing of election returns is yet to be completed.
