Mayor Duterte punches court sheriff who refused to delay demolition

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/01 July) – Apparently incensed by the refusal of her request to delay the demolition of houses owned by informal settlers in a barangay here, Mayor Sara Duterte hit a court sheriff with a couple of punches in full view of residents and reporters.

Prior to it, a police officer and three others persons had been injured after the demolition this morning at Purok Soliman in Barangay Tomas Monteverde Sr. resulted in a scuffle when some residents offered resistance.

The violence prompted Duterte to punch court sheriff Abe Andres who was trying to enforce the demolition order on informal settlers in a 2,000-square meter land.

TV cameras were able to get footage of Duterte hitting Andres who just turned his back and tried to cover his face as the mayor’s aides tried to stop her.

Duterte admitted that she was unable to control her temper because the sheriff turned down her request to give her two hours before enforcing the demolition because she was still in Barangay Matina attending to the concerns of the flood victims.

“I have earlier requested the court that we will enforce the demolition order together because the residents will not follow any orders from the court except from the mayor,” she told reporters.

For humanitarian reasons, Duterte said she requested for the two-hour extension, or until 11a.m., so that she could still hold a dialogue with the residents before enforcing the demolition order. She added no violence could have ensued had the sheriff listened to her.

She, however, clarified that she did not order a stop to the demolition that would affect 220 families, but only wanted to have it enforced Read More »

Tough Tandem

What should we expect from father and daughter tandem in Davao City? Even the new Mayor Inday Sara Duterte also vowed that the city will remain a dangerous place for criminals. It’s seems she’s just reiterating her father’s warning to the criminals in the city. Many say that this younger Duterte is much tougher than her father, many also expect  that she would strictly implement the house rules even within the premises of the city hall.

Following her inauguration on June 28, Inday Sara immediately called fro a press conference. One pretty striking statement was her stand on curbing criminality in the city. She was also asked on the possible working reconciliation with their political foe — the Nograles. She refused to answer the question. Instead, she just smiled. But in the past, she said that she is not a ‘plastic’ person and if she’s mad, she really means it.  She pointed out that the city can stand on its own feet even without the congressional funds — only referring to First District Rep. Karlo Nograles, son of her mayoralty race rival former Speaker Boy Nograles.

She has also said that even a public apology cannot mend the damages that has been done.

For his part, now Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also vowed that he will not allow the peace and order in the city to deteriorate. When asked how he can contribute since he has no longer in control of the law enforcement agencies, Duterte pointed out that the legislative body may control the release of budget. “Through the aid of legislation, we will call their (police) attention if they will not perform their duties well.”

Kiss-Goodbye

As expected by most of Davaoeños, the younger current vice mayor Inday Sara Duterte defeated the country’s fourth powerful person — House Speaker  Boy Nograles — in the mayoralty race of Davao City.  Nograles campaigned hard to live with his dream of becoming a mayor of Davao City. But on May 10, more than 380,000 people of Davao City frustrated the House Speaker, who only earned about 160,000 votes  from all three districts here. Continue reading here.