DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Straight from the horse’s mouth.

President Duterte has admitted being a dictator as his critics have maintained.

“Yes, it is true. I am a dictator. I have to be a dictator for the good of the country,” the President told more than 200 former New People’s Army rebels who dined with him at Malacañang the other night.

The rebel returnees were from the Eastern Mindanao area, with whom he had the chance to interact when he was mayor of Davao City for 23 years.

The President said he has to be a dictator or else he won’t be able to achieve anything for the country.

Boasting of 16 million votes in the last elections, Duterte said he believes his style is acceptable to a majority of Filipinos. His iron fist approach, he added, is much needed in the fight against illegal drugs and corruption. Chaos would ensue, he warned, if he goes soft on criminals and troublemakers.

He stressed his office is the ultimate repository of powers in government.

But while he could claim to be a dictator, Duterte emphasized he could never be called a fascist or a puppet of the United States.

“How can I be tuta (puppy) of the US when I do not even talk with anyone in the US military?”

He also assailed Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, who is in exile in the Netherlands, for wanting to become president of the country. The President said he could not give in to Sison’s wishes. He said the communists want to take power through armed struggle.

“Do not believe in Sison whom you have made into your god because he has not taught you anything but to kill and hold-up or extort both the rich and the poor,” the President said.

Duterte said it is ironic how communist giants like China and Russia have become major centers of capitalism.

The President said that even if the insurgency continues for 50 or even 100 more years, Malacañang will never fall to the communists as the government naturally enjoys an upper hand in terms of weaponry.

The President also promised rebel returnees housing units, jobs and schooling for their children. At the moment, Duterte said he could not give them honoraria for their daily subsistence.