Open to China territory talks: Duterte

Philippines’ Prez-elect Duterte mulls child, alcohol curfews

Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is willing to talk with China over a highly-sensitive territorial dispute in the South China Sea, his spokesman said on Tuesday, in a significant reversal of the incumbent’s stance.

Mr Duterte, who won Monday’s election, is also willing to form partnerships with China to extract gas and oil deposits that are believed to be in the sea, as well as explore joint fishing management systems, Peter Lavina said.

“This is the difference between the current and the Duterte administrations, the mayor is open to bilateral talks with China,” Mr Lavina told reporters in Davao, the major southern city that Mr Duterte has ruled as mayor for most of the past two decades.

China and the Philippines, under President Benigno Aquino, have endured steadily worsening relations in recent years as they sparred over joint claims to parts of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

China claims nearly all of the sea, even waters approaching the coasts of the Philippines, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.

The President-elect is also planning to impose a nationwide curfew on children being on the streets late at night and is also considering banning the serving of alcohol after midnight, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

The uncompromising mayor floated the idea a day after securing a landslide election victory built on a pledge to wage war on crime and corruption.

“Mr Duterte will impose a curfew on unescorted minors past 10 pm,” spokesman Peter Lavina told reporters.