Duterte stands by claim, accepts slapping challenge

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – If a low crime rate in this city is a myth, so is the degree supposedly obtained from Wharton by Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Manuel Roxas II, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday.

And Duterte said he is ready to go to Roxas’ home at the Araneta center in Cubao, Quezon City for their slapping match.

Duterte said Roxas might have attended the Wharton School of Economics but did not obtain a degree there.

“I would like to ask this presidentiable: you claimed to have graduated from Wharton School of Economics. It is a myth. You did not graduate from the Wharton School of Economics Mr. Roxas. Wala ka doon sa listahan that you have completed a four- or five-year (course) or a degree. Your name is not there,” Duterte said. 

Duterte said that anyone can ask the Wharton School of Economics and you will find that Roxas’ name is not there. 

Sources said Roxas finished his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979 but that to be considered a graduate of the Wharton School of Economics would mean you should have finished Masters in Business Administration or MBA in the school, but Roxas did not complete the degree program. 

“Maybe you have enrolled for a three-month course or a correspondence (course). I would believe that,” Duterte said. 

The mayor also challenged Roxas to show photos of his graduation at Wharton, complete with toga. 

“Pero ikaw na naka-toga at nag-graduate ka doon, show me that picture of you in toga together with your mother,” Duterte said. 

The animosity between Roxas and Duterte surfaced when they wound up as rivals in the presidential race in the 2016 elections. 

Roxas and Duterte used to be close friends before the election season started late this year.  

Duterte’s tirade against Roxas came after the ruling Liberal Party standard bearer declared earlier that the peace and order prevailing in Davao City is a myth.

“He said that the peace and order of Davao City is a myth? Who is he to say it?” the mayor asked. 

Duterte said it is not for Roxas to judge or say that the prevailing peace and order situation in Davao City is a myth or not, but rather the people of Davao City. 

He also explained that Roxas should have known better the real situation in the south as he was the former chief of the interior and local government unit before resigning when he decided to run for president. 

“And secondly, you cited the reports or the police records. I thought you were the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government then you should know better. We are only the implementors in the local government level,” Duterte said. 

Various groups have cited Davao City as among the safest cities not only in the country but even in the world.