No let-up in anti-crime drive

DAVAO CITY — Drug pushers and criminals, beware.

This, as Mayor Rodrigo Duterte vowed no let-up yesterday in his campaign against terrorism, criminality and the illegal drug trade as he embarks on his fifth term as mayor of this southern metropolis.

"Criminals and lawless elements cannot be allowed to roam the streets of the city freely. They have no place and they are not needed in the city," said Duterte after Regional Trial Court Judge Renato Fuentes administered his oath of office.

"We will not allow them to disturb the peace and tranquility of our people and our city," he said, adding that he is determined to do what is right for the greater good.

The pistol-tucking Duterte won by more than 160,000 votes against rival, former mayor Benjamin de Guzman, in the May 10 elections.

He was first elected mayor of Davao City in 1987. After completing three consecutive terms, he ran — and won — as the city’s first district congressman in 1998.

Duterte is widely believed to have been undefeated in all his political endeavors mainly because of his platform of peace and order.

Duterte took his oath of office at the entrance of City Hall at about 8 a.m. shortly after saying a prayer for five minutes before the altar of the San Pedro Church.

Duterte’s mother, Soledad, and other members of his family witnessed his oathtaking.

"Terrorists cannot dictate the way we live. We will institute proactive measures and initiate preemptive actions to protect our city and our people. I take it as a fundamental obligation to ensure the peace and security of every law-abiding citizen of our city," he said.

Citing the fact that the city’s nearly 1.6 million residents come from various ethnic origins, Duterte also promised to continue holding dialogues with different groups, including Muslims, who he said would have key roles in his administration.

He said he has ordered the Madrasah program to be beefed up, especially for Muslim children, for them "to understand the Islamic philosophy of education for peace, progress and development of our society."

Duterte also outlined specific priority projects which he vowed to complete before his new term ends, including a comprehensive urban drainage and flood control system to address the city’s perennial flood problem.

He also cited the P350-million sensorized traffic signalization project which will involve a state-of-the-art adaptive traffic control system, the shelter and urban land reform program and farm-to-market alternate road projects.