Manila: Rodrigo Duterte, mayor of Davao City in southern Philippines, vowed to reject money from drug lords on Friday.

His pledge came after the Commission on Elections threw out four disqualification cases filed against him.

Duterte one of the six official presidential candidates in May this year.

“I can now accept contributions, but with certain conditions: the money must come from legitimate sources and not from those who have no business transactions with the government,” said Duterte, adding, “My supporters are volunteers and home-grown — from the southern and central Philippines.”

“Drug money will not go to Duterte,” said former agriculture secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez, finance chief of Duterte’s Democratic Filipino Party-Nation’s Fight (PDP-Laban).

The party is aiming for a P4 billion (Dh330 million) fund.

“It is a comfortable figure before, during, and after the May elections,” explained Dominguez who refused to identify Duterte’s supporters from the elite and big business.

Other presidential candidates have double the P4 billion in campaign funds, Dominguez said, adding Duterte’s campaign is fuelled by ideas, not money.

Duterte reiterated his call for constitutional amendment for his pet projects: “[Maximum] 70 per cent foreign ownership of business in the Philippines; establishment of a federal form of government; and revival of the death penalty for drug lords and hardened criminals.”

“There’s lack of local investments in the Philippines,” Duterte explained his 70-30 formula in favour of foreign business at the Wallace Forum in Makati City.

The Constitution puts a cap of 40 per cent ownership of foreign investors in the Philippines.

“Federalism will spread out economic resources and government power across the country, promote peace, inclusive growth, and equality under the law,” Duterte said. His country follows the United States’ presidential form of government which breeds patronage politics.

“There should be death penalty for drug lords. Hardened criminals make life hard for law-abiding citizens in the Philippines,” Duterte said.

Congress repealed the death penalty in 2006.

The Comelec which oversees the country’s electoral process — recognised Duterte as an official candidate after four disqualification cases filed against him were junked on Wednesday.

“As an official candidate, I will participate in presidential debates. I am prepared,” Duterte said.

“We shall now consolidate the forces between those who have been with us and those who are going to join us,” Congressman Martin Romualdez said.

Popularity surveys have placed Duterte second to Vice-President Jejomar Binay, the presidential candidate of the opposition.