MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – If elected next president of the Philippines, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will auction off the disputed Spratly islands to China in exchange for trains.

Speaking at a press conference in Palawan, Duterte suggested he is willing to keep quiet on the Philippines’ claim to the islands as long as China builds a train around Mindanao, build a train from Manila to Bicol, and build a train going to Batangas.

The Spratlys, a group of islands located in the South China Sea, have been the subject of fierce dispute between China and the Philippines, as well as other Southeast Asian countries that also lay claim to the oil-rich  territories.

Duterte acknowledged that for the  Philippines to engage in a war with China over the Spratlys is a losing proposition, comparing the military capabilities of both countries.

However, if worse comes to worse, Duterte said he will board a boat headed for the disputed islands, wave the Filipino flag and wait for the Chinese to shoot him dead.

“It’s been my ambition to become the first Filipino national hero from Mindanao,” he said.