MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday defended political dynasties, after the consultative committee on charter change he created recommended a provision restricting political dynasties.

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Duterte, one of many political dynasts in the Philippines, said while he was “for” abolishing political dynasties, he doubts whether this proposal will be accepted by the people.

"A few of the principled men, I would say, want this kind of thing about dynasty abolished. I am for it. Ang problema lulusot ba ‘yan?" Duterte said in a speech during the General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

Duterte said some voters elect the relative of an outgoing official because they want continuity of policies, citing his own experience as long-time Davao City mayor who was succeeded by his daughter, Sara.

“Sa atin, pagkatapos mo, they would ask for your son, or your wife,” he said.

“I don’t know but Inday (Sara), she’s a character and she can be mean. The Davaoeños want to continue kung ano na ang nagawa mo.”

He said that because of his leadership, Davao became “so peaceful, so clean.”

“[Illegal] drugs [are] minimal and the law and order is very good. It took me about three terms to perfect the system,” he said.

As mayor for over 2 decades, Duterte had been accused of employing a death squad that killed crime suspects throughout the city.

“Kung sabihin nila namatay, marami talagang namatay. I was one of those who really wanted to get rid of the drugs,” he said.

Duterte’s consultative committee has agreed to allow relatives within the second degree of consanguinity to run only for 2 positions in the same election.

The present Constitution has an anti-dynasty provision, but this has not been implemented due to the absence of an enabling law.

Duterte’s consultative committee hopes to address this loophole in the proposed constitution under a new form of government.