Duterte: I will gladly kill Davidson Bangayan for my country

MANILA, Philippines - Feisty Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that he is ready to kill businessman Davidson Bangayan if he is caught smuggling rice in his city.

"If this guy (Bangayan) will go to Davao and start to unload [smuggled rice] and nakita ko siya... I will gladly kill him," Duterte told Senator Jinggoy Estrada during the televised Senate agriculture committee hearing on rice smuggling.

"Kapag lumaban ito and he puts up a good fight, I would not hesitate. I will do it for my country," Duterte said.

The Davao city mayor said he is not trying to be a hero, but he said his possible action will serve as a stern warning against rice smugglers.

Duterte said he is also not afraid to get jailed for what he would do against Bangayan.

"I'm old your honor. I could spend the remaining days of my life in prison," Duterte said, adding that he will just then read books and reminisce the "lost glory."

The mayor said smuggling has been going on "ever since" and Davao has been one of the ports for the illegal goods along with Manila, Cebu and Cagayan.

During the hearing, Duterte reiterated that Bangayan and alleged rice smuggling king "David Tan" are one and the same person.

He said Bangayan was the one in Tan's photo that was provided by the intelligence community.

"I think he is the one. I have no doubt about it," Duterte told the Senate panel while pointing a finger at Bangayan.

Duterte claimed that those who would want to simplify the procedures in rice importation would allegedly go to Bangayan since he has connections to the Bureau of Customs.

"His face is all over the town. Everybody knows him. And he is a central figure in the rice smuggling in this country," Duterte said.

The Davao City mayor also lamented that rice smuggling has become prevalent in the country because the government "talk too much" but "act to slow and do too little."

Bangayan once again denied the accusations hurled against him during the Senate hearing, prompting the Senate agriculture committee to cite him for contempt for allegedly "lying."

The Senate committee said perjury charges will be filed against Bangayan before Friday.