DILG probe on Duterte assault ends today

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s liability for punching a court sheriff during a demolition row in the city last July 1 will be known today, the deadline given by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to lawyers investigating the case.

“Secretary Robredo ordered DILG lawyers Christopher Tiu and Romeo Benitez to submit to him the result of their investigation not later than today,” DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero said.

The DILG is not likely to announce the result of the probe as a matter of procedure. However, it will submit the result of the investigation to the Office of the President, which will review the findings and subsequently announce the action to be taken on the erring local chief executive.

Robredo sent the DILG lawyers to Davao last July 4 to interview all those involved in the incident – sheriff Abe Andres, Duterte, her bodyguards, police escorts and residents as part of their thorough investigation.

Robredo ordered an investigation after watching footage of Duterte punching Andres when the latter allegedly ignored her request to stay the demolition of a squatter colony in Barangay Soliman in Agdao district.

After being criticized for her actions, Duterte went on leave but residents and supporters held rallies in support of the mayor.

Despite getting support from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other groups, Andres refused to pursue the case against the mayor.

Robredo, on the other hand, said the DILG will still pursue the investigation on the possible liability of Duterte. He said the DILG “will complete the fact-finding with or without the testimony of Andres.”

Alcover hits Dutertes’ arrogance, thuggery

Meanwhile, Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) party-list Rep. Jun Alcover called on all Davaoeños to stand up for justice while describing the Dutertes’ rule as dictatorial, show of arrogance and brazen thuggery.

In a press statement, Rep. Alcover decried the Duterte family’s iron fist rule in Davao City, saying the father’s poking a dirty finger twice and the son’s latest action was enough proof that Davao City is ruled by thugs where the word of the gang boss is law.

“I can’t think of anything else but Duterte’s fiefdom in the making when, in television news reports, I saw City Vice Mayor Digong Duterte and his son poking dirty fingers against their critics and taunting CHR chair Etta Rosales to helplessness,” the ANAD congressman said in the press statement.

“Vice Mayor Duterte and his son, a Davao City councilor, poking their dirty fingers are not mere exercises of their freedom of expression but an open challenge to the rule of law and national legal authority. This is a highly despicable display of public disservice and sheer arrogance deliberately made by a public official,” Rep. Alcover pointed out.

He said he understood the sheriff’s feeling when he apologized on television and expressed desire not to file a case against the mayor.

“No one in Davao City would dare raise a finger against the Duterte family without putting his dear life and that of his family on the line,” Alcover added.

He said that without any second thought, the Duterte exude power and blood reminiscent of the dreaded Mafia syndicates as they seemed untouchables in their own turf with about 90 percent of Davaoeños cowed in fear while 10 percent just keeping mum yet having deep reservations against them.

“Government must now show to all that public officials are duty-bound to uphold the rule of law and that they must conduct themselves in the highest standards of public service,” said Alcover in reaction to the seeming timid response of Malacañang, the DILG, and the League of Cities of the Philippines, to the incident.

“Malacañang and DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo are duty-bound to act accordingly and with dispatch to prevent a repeat of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s brazen display of thuggery to happen in other areas of the country,” Rep. Alcover stressed.

“At the same time, as a lawyer, City Mayor Duterte is fully aware of the consequences of her act. She blatantly obstructed the imposition of a lawful order of the court for which she should be cited for contempt and subjected to appropriate disciplinary sanctions by the Supreme Court,” he said. – With Ben Serrano