MANILA – With less than a month to go before the elections, the word war intensified between Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

Speaking today at a press conference in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, Roxas expressed incredulity over Duterte's promise to eradicate crime in the entire Philippines in as short as 3 months.

READ: Duterte's anti-crime vow 'pambobola,' says Roxas

Roxas questioned Duterte's capability to accomplish this promise when the latter could not even do it in Davao where he has been mayor for over two decades.

"Ito 'yung mga istatistika. Sa buong bansa, number one ang Davao sa murder. Pumapangalawa sa buong bansa sa rape ang Davao City. Ang bilang ng homicide, pumapangatlo sa buong bansa ang bilang ng Davao... Hindi po ito kathang-isip, hindi po ito pang-iimbento. Katotohanan po ito... resulta na ito ay resulta ng kanyang pamumuno bilang peace and order chairman ng Davao City at Davao Region,'' he said.

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''Huwag mo kaming lokohin, Duterte. Huwag mo kaming linlangin. Puros ampaw ang sinasabi mo. Matapang ka lang sa salita. Hindi mo nga nagawa sa sarili mong lungsod, ipapangako mo sa buong sambayanang Pilipino na magagawa mo ito."

He also called out Duterte for again resorting to name-calling. Duterte earlier called Roxas ''bakla'' after the latter questioned his heavy-handed leadership.

"Wala kang respeto kahit kanino. Kinikilala mo lang 'yung iyong makitid at limitadong pananaw....Narating na rin natin siguro 'yung limitasyon ng iyong utak at ng iyong bokabularyo. Nung isang araw, tawag mo sakin, bayot. Kahapon naman, tawag mo sa amin, sa gobyernong ito, bakla. Eh 'di ba tinranslate mo lang sa Tagalog 'yung bisaya? Hanggang diyan nalang ba ang bokabyularyo mo? Wala ka na bang maisip na ibang salita?" Roxas said.

The intensifying exchange of words between Roxas and Duterte came as the latter took solo lead in the latest pre-election survey of ABS-CBN conducted by Pulse Asia.

READ: Duterte overtakes Poe, claims lead in ABS-CBN survey

Even Vice President Jejomar Binay also focused his attack on Duterte, saying it is the responsibility of Filipinos to prevent the Davao strongman from becoming president.

READ: Binay to voters: Duterte must not become President

Poe also took a swipe at Duterte, saying killing is not the solution to the country's peace and order problem.

READ: Poe takes swipe at Duterte: Killing not the solution