CPP labels Inday Sara 'mini dictator' over Davao's safety guidelines

MANILA, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines on Thursday called Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio a “mini dictator” a day after she placed her city under a hold-and-secure status.

The CPP said in a statement that Carpio was taking advantage of her father President Rodrigo Duterte's imposition of martial law in Mindanao to enforce “anti-democratic measures” such as the restriction of people’s freedoms.

READ: Davao City releases 30-point guideline under martial law

CPP accused Carpio of using the army rule in Mindanao to prohibit acts that would “challenge” her authority and power.

“In Davao City, mini-dictator Sarah Duterte is taking advantage of the martial law declaration by coming up with a long-list of anti-democratic measures which seeks to restrict that people’s freedoms, particularly their right to assemble, to express their grievance and seek redress. Like her father, she also wants to prohibit other acts which she deems as challenges to her authority and power,” CPP said.

On Wednesday, Carpio placed Davao City on lockdown following the president’s declaration of army rule on the island. She later in the day downgraded the status to “hold and secure.”

During lockdown and hold-and-secure situations, individuals in an area are discouraged from entering or leaving the place. However, a lockdown is a more extreme measure as it minimizes the visibility of vulnerable people. Under a hold-and-secure scenario, a sense of normalcy is still observed.

Carpio discouraged people from leaving or entering Davao City unless they have important or urgent business to conduct. She also discouraged Davao City residents from traveling to other areas of Mindanao while the city waits for directives from the national government.

Heightened security measures would also be implemented in the city, but the physical freedom of people would not be restricted, according to Carpio.

Among the guidelines that Mayor Carpio released were common sense reminders to stay away from crowded places, alert authorities of suspicious-looking people and activities, and to make sure government permits like driver's licenses and vehicle registration are up to date. Residents are also encouraged to bring valid IDs and discouraged from letting minors go out unsupervised.

Past spats with the NPA

This is not the first time that the communist rebels and the presidential daughter have exchanged fiery words.

Early this month, Carpio called the New People's Army “stupid” and “bumbling idiots” after the guerrillas labeled her a hypocrite following the mayor’s condemnation of the rebels’ attack on Lapanday Food Corp. in the city while the Philippine government was hosting a regional summit of leaders of Southeast Asian countries. The mayor's husband is legal counsel for Lapanday.

“I may be a hypocrite to you, but you are stupid to me and all the peace-loving Dabawenyos. Look, you cannot even spell the word ‘Pambansang’ correctly. Bumbling idiots,” she said in a statement.

The mayor said that terrorists and fake organizations did not have the right to talk about social justice, in an apparent reference to the NPA which is a US-listed terrorist organization.

Carpio earlier offered localized peace negotiation to the communist guerillas and even jobs for them at the Davao City Hall.