MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) –The word war between Philippine presidential candidates Mar Roxas and Rodrigo Duterte continues unabated. First, the Davao City mayor challenged the former Interior Secretary to a slapping match. Then Roxas challenged Duterte to a fistfight. Now, Duterte is challenging Roxas to a gun battle.

It looks like a scene from a country western film, but in reality,  the back and forth jabs may end up with both candidates behind bars.

Challenging anyone to a duel is illegal in the Philippines.

Article 261 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines makes it a crime for any person “to challenge another  or incite another to give or accept a challenge to a duel, or scoff at or decry another publicly for having refused to accept a challenge to fight a duel.” The crime is punishable with imprisonment of four months and one day to two years and four months.

So it looks like Roxas and Duterte will be campaigning from inside their jail cells, and if one of them wins in the May 2016 presidential elections, he will be spending the first two of his six-year term as president not in Malacañang Palace but inside the National Penitentiary.

It’s more fun in the Philippines. We told you so!