Mayor assures Chinese of graft-free Davao City
By ROGER M. BALANZA
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has assured Chinese businessmen that graft and corruption would not come in the way when they invest in Davao City.
I told them they could apply for business permits at my office and they could have the papers in three days, said Duterte of his meeting with the Chinese investors in Nanning, China last week.
Duterte went to Nanning to sign a pact of friendship with officials of the Chinese city. He was accompanied by top Davao City businessmen eyeing business tie-ups with the Chinese investors.
Duterte said during business discussion, the Chinese hurled at him three questions: corruption, kidnapping and bombings in Davao City.
At the Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa television program on ABS/CBN-Davao on Sunday, Duterte said he assured the Chinese he could easily take charge of the first two, but admitted bombings is a thing difficult to control.
To avoid corruption, I told them I would myself handle their papers, he said.
On kidnapping, I told them that if that would happen I can assure the victim would be freed with the criminals dead, he said.
Duterte said he frankly told the Chinese that Davao City had been hit by two deadly bombings in 2003 but said the military and police had been doing its best to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
The mayor said he tried to squeeze a bargain from the businessmen in exchange for a graft-free business dealings and safety against criminals.
He said told them that if they come to invest in Davao City, the arrangement should not be a one-way street.
They should also buy our products and not just dump on us Chinese goods and then bring profit back to China, said the mayor.
Filed under: Business, Duterte | Tagged: chinese businessmen, davao city, Duterte, graft free
