There will be elections in May next year.

This was the categorical assurance issued by Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte to the Visayas mayors who attended the Visayan Cluster Conference of the League of Municipalities (LMP) at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Tuesday.

Ilocos Governor Imee Marcos, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator JV Ejercito, former Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino and Palace spokesman Harry Roque, all projected to run for a seat in the Senate next year, also attended the mayor’s conference.

Clarin Mayor Allen Piezas, president of the League of Municipalities (LMP) Bohol, told the Chronicle that he was convinced with the statement of the President that elections will be held next year contrary to the “No Election” (NO-EL) reports.

Piezas said that Duterte asked mayors to ensure peaceful and clean midterm elections next year.

In the same speech before the Visayas mayors, Duterte warned politicians with armed goons, ordering them to start disbanding their security men as this will not be allowed to be dominant in next year’s elections.

Duterte also reiterated his call for drug-linked mayors to end involvement in the proliferation of drugs in the region and for the local chief executives to maintain intensified campaigns against narcotics trade.

The President stressed that he is in the midst of a sustained campaign against drugs and graft and corruption.

He admitted that he has given his economic managers “sole responsibility” to run the country’s economic growth while he will remain focused  in the fight against drugs and corrupt government officials.

Meanwhile, Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto was asked to be the instant master of ceremonies during the event.