Power punching local execs

It’s all over on YouTube and not just repeatedly played on news video. But the unrepentant mayor of Davao City, Sara Duterte, could not care less if this makes her any less popular. Neither is the Davao City mayor perturbed if it could make her notoriously known as a quick-to-throw-a-punch female local executive.

While she was busy supervising the relief operations for the victims of the recent flashfloods in the southern part of the city, Mayor Duterte said she got a report about the violent encounter in Monteverde Agdao between the informal settlers and the sheriff-led demolition team backed up by Davao City policemen.

As caught on video, Mayor Duterte repeatedly punched, four times at least, the face of Davao City court sheriff Abe Andres who served the court-issued demolition order against informal settlers occupying the contested private property.

The next day, Mayor Duterte met with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by Secretary Rogelio Singson. The DPWH chief flew all the way to Davao City to personally check what caused the flashfloods that left 30 people dead, half of them children, who drowned when these struck last Tuesday night after hours of heavy downpour.

From inspection and reports reaching Singson, the waterways were clogged not only by siltation but also by the presence of so many informal settlers. Shanties abound along the riverbanks of Matina and Pangi, contributing to the flooding problem. The demolition of informal settlers in Davao City took place in the Poblacion, said to be about two kilometers away from where the flashfloods took place in the southern part of the city.

At the end of the meeting with the DPWH Secretary, Mayor Duterte agreed on the need to move the informal settlers out of the waterways and relocate them. So after all, there is valid reason for the removal of these informal settlers for their own safety and for the general well-being of Davao City folks.

So it is not clear what really made Mayor Duterte lose her cool and snap from a proper frame of mind. A day after the incident, a more sober Mayor Duterte realized the gravity of her actions that caught her in this bind. “It was an unfortunate incident and was not my best moment,” she was quoted as saying.

What was apparent on the video, Mayor Duterte was fully aware of the presence of media and cameramen when she arrived at the demolition scene. So it was clear she was conscious of the possible consequences if she would display in public any action or conduct unbecoming of her position as mayor of the city.

There was no immediate reaction from the Supreme Court (SC) on the incident. As sheriff, Andres is an officer of the court under the jurisdiction of the SC. After he was sent to the hospital by the mayor’s staff and treated for his bruises, Andres told media he has no plans to file any complaint against Duterte.

It was not clear why Andres is reluctant to press charges against Mayor Duterte. By not doing so, questions beg to be answered. Already, local executives are obviously taking the side of their fellow mayor, with insinuations that the sheriff’s refusal to heed the request to delay the demolition may have something to do with money changing hands.

Or is Andres so afraid to lock horns with the Dutertes whose political clout has been deeply rooted in Davao City through these years? For whatever reasons he may have, Andres could not escape investigation of himself on this incident whether he complains or not.

Mayor Duterte, who is a lawyer by profession, herself faces possible suspension or even disbarment for inflicting physical injury on a fellow officer of the court. She announced she would go on voluntary leave from July 7 to 11 to give way to whatever investigation that may be made on the incident. Her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, would take over as “acting” mayor.

The elder Duterte is also known for his strong ways. He has built a macho image and has styled himself not only as a tough-talking but also as a gun-packing local executive. Oh well, it obviously runs in the family.

Based on the Local Government Code, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo said administrative complaints against mayors and governors should be filed before the Office of the President. The latest official word from Malacañang Palace was an official assurance of a “fair” investigation into last Friday’s incident in Davao City. Of course, since it involved physical injury, a separate criminal complaint can be lodged against the mayor.

But on motu propio basis, the DILG Secretary explained, the DILG can conduct a fact-finding on a local public official even if the aggrieved party did not file any formal complaint. Robredo sent to Davao City two DILG lawyers to conduct the fact-finding.

A former mayor of Naga City for three terms, Robredo has to show his impartiality in the supervision of any errant local government officials. Actually, the punching incident involving Mayor Duterte is the second case now being attended to by the DILG Secretary.

The first case involved Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac who reportedly assaulted Jerome Tabanganay of the government-owned dzRK Radyo ng Bayan-Tabuk City. Baac was accused of barging into the radio station’s booth last June 7 while Tabanganay was airing his criticisms against the governor over alleged jueteng and illegal logging operations in the province.

Although the incident was caught by the CCTV camera in the announcer’s booth, Baac denied assaulting Tabanganay. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, whose office supervises the state-run radio station, filed an administrative case against Baac before the DILG. Tabanganay lodged a separate criminal complaint against the governor with the local prosecutor’s office.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III would eventually decide on the cases of Gov. Baac and Mayor Duterte. Whether illegal logging or informal settlers abetting disasters, these local executives must answer to the need to protect the welfare of the greater majority of the Filipino people.

As far as he is concerned, P-Noy has repeatedly declared the entire Filipino people his real “boss.” As Chief Executive of the land, P-Noy has to remind these power punching local executives to do no less.