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The word war between Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas rages on.
Following Duterte's allegations that Roxas did not really graduate from Wharton School of Economics at University of Pennsylvania, the latter challenged the mayor to slap him if he fails to prove his academic credentials.
Roxas added, however, that he would slap his fellow presidential aspirant once he establishes that he is an alumni of the prestigious school.
"Kung hindi totoo ang Wharton degree ko, sampalin mo ko hindi ako iilag. Pero kung totoo ang Wharton degree ko, sasampalin kita,," went Roxas' message to Duterte.
Roxas also told reporters at the Urban Poor Solidarity Week celebration at the University of the Philippines that the use of violence is Duterte's typical means for resolving conflict.
He insisted that the country must not return under a leadership that uses force to rule its people, which, he said, is comparable to Martial Law.
Roxas on Friday claimed that the peaceful reputation of Davao City is only a "myth," saying that the city recorded the fourth highest crime rate in 2014.
Over the weekend, Duterte rebutted that Roxas' academic record is the real myth.
"You claim to have graduated from Wharton School of Economics. That is a myth -- you did not graduate sa Wharton School Of Economics, Mr. Roxas. Wala doon sa listahan na naka-kumpleto ka ng 4 years o 5 years for a degree," the feisty mayor said in his local radio show Sunday.
"Maybe nag-enroll ka ng three-month course, correspondence -- I would believe that. Pero ikaw na nag-graduate ka nang naka-toga? Show me a toga, kasama ng nanay mo that you graduated."
Duterte also mocked the "inefficiency" of Roxas in handling stress, particularly when he headed relief operations, as former Interior and Local Government Secretary, after typhoon "Yolanda" struck in 2013.
WHARTON ARCHIVES
Roxas graduated from the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.
An official university archives webpage listed Roxas among those in "notable positions in foreign government."
The list was researched, compiled and presented by Scott Hawley, a Wharton alumnus, in partnership with the University Archives and Records Center. It was published in August 2002 and last updated July 2002 of that year.
Mar kay Duterte: Kung totoo Wharton degree ko, sasampalin kita!Pakinggan ang naging malutong na banta ni Mar, matapos...
