Jollygoodfellow Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 thats the sort of mayor the country needs, female too.Davao mayor punches sheriff over demolition of shantiesDAVAO CITY, Philippines—An incensed Mayor Sara Duterte punched not once, but thrice, a court sheriff for insisting on demolishing houses inside a contested property in Barangay Soliman in Davao’s Agdao district on Friday.Sheriff Abe Andres was initially hit in the left eye and was explaining to Duterte that he was just implementing a court order when the mayor threw two more punches that landed on his face.Duterte had rushed to the area when informed that a demolition team was tearing down the shanties where 217 families were living, surrounded by angry residents armed with improvised sling-propelled darts, other bladed weapons and hard objects.At the initial stage of the confrontation between the residents and police-backed demolition team, a policeman was hit by a dart on the buttocks.Minda Saison, vice chair of the United Settlers Association, said they were being forced out of the lot, which was being claimed by a Jaime Uy of the Davao Enterprise Corp.Saison said that on June 23, they received a court order asking them to vacate the area. The next day, their lawyer tried to file a motion of appeal but it was not until Friday that he was able to do it in Cagayan de Oro City, she said.Saison said they asked the demolition team to wait for the results of the motion but they were ignored.As of late afternoon, there was still no word from the lawyer.“The people will defend our rights. We will not allow them to just demolish our properties while we are still waiting for the court’s decision over our petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order,” she said.As the demolition team was advancing and the residents started to put up a fight, Duterte arrived and interceded.Apparently exhausted from the flash flood that devastated the Talomo district, Duterte told the demolition team she did not want bloodshed.“I was in the middle of 13,000 people who are badly in need of assistance and here you are doing this?” she said.Duterte told them that as early as Thursday, she already asked the court to delay the demolition of the shanties because she knew it would be bloody as residents were ready to fight back.On Friday, she asked the demolition team anew to stay the execution of the court order for two more hours but Andres refused.“Is that difficult to do when I have successfully done it and I am a woman?” she said.It was at this juncture that she asked for Andres.“Where is he? Where is the sheriff?” Duterte asked.A visibly scared Andres approached Duterte, who immediately flung her fist.Andres, who appeared shocked, tried to explain he was just implementing an order issued by Judge Emmanuel Carpio of the Regional Trial Court’s Branch 16.But she threw two more punches that all landed on Andres’ face.The sheriff was immediately rushed to a hospital after the incident.Duterte, a lawyer by profession, admitted she was angered by the sheriff’s insistence on serving the notice of eviction when she was only asking for a two-hour reprieve until the residents’ lawyers got a ruling from the Court of Appeals.“I was only asking for two hours. Two hours. Why can’t you give that to us? Why do you insist on serving the notice? Do you think the residents will just allow you to demolish their houses without them giving out a fight?” she said.Duterte said she convinced the residents to be relocated after the incident.Andres has not issued any statement on the incident yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genius Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Brilliant!She is no dainty little thing either. I am 100% on her side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Bernard Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Brilliant!She is no dainty little thing either. I am 100% on her side. Feisty like her Pa, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Lee Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 HERE is a news story with a video of the mayor beating on a guy that I guess is the sheriff. She looks like one tough lady, but while I like what she stands for, I feel that beating on the sheriff who is only doing his job, is not something a mayor should do. Seems the guy refused medical treatment, and I am guessing he may have to go into hiding because he will now be the laughing stock of that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp52 Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 I feel her frustration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me bubba Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I feel her frustrationI just saw on TV what she did. I thought she was a man or woman who looks like a man. what she did was uncalled for, then her body guard held him back, had a local done this, he would have been shot, NO QUESTIONS asked.or had the Sheriff, tried to defend himself,he would have been shot too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I could just imagine if the honorable mayor did not show up in time. Would there be another bloody confrontationbetween the demolition team backed by PNP with high powered Armalites and the squatters? That area alreadysuffered from flash flooding and many more displaced squatters from other flooded areas. Granted, there has been a long history of so-called "professional squatters" who are actually being sponsored bygovernment officials for future votes when they're up for re-elections. Many squatters were even paid off by the property owners in the hopes they will never return.The Duterte family of Davao City sounds like the Gordon Dynasty of Olongapo City. So far I have not heard or readany negative stories about either families, unlike some other mayors with guns, goons and gold. She even apologize -- an uncommon characteristic among the powerful and aristocrats who refuse to "lose face" in public. She's got my vote......Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me bubba Posted July 11, 2011 Posted July 11, 2011 this article is from PHILNEWS.com although its an editorial it seems to have some of the "political" feeling that others in the RP feel but not speak about. some of the comments listed are very "EYE OPENING"http://philnews.com/Many local government officials in the Philippines are arrogant, tyrannical and for the most part feel they are above the law. Public service in the Philippine context is a convoluted mix that includes: a sense of entitlement; a pretense at humility; and a well-entrenched belief that public officials have all the right to lord it over their constituents. A case in point is the violent outburst of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte who was caught on video repeatedly punching the local sheriff who was simply doing his job. An individual of such explosive temperament has no business in public office and instead should be required to undergo long-term anger management therapy. Sadly, Sara Duterte's actions disgraced not just herself but all Filipino public officials in the eyes of the world. From the Crisologos in the north, to the Ampatuans in the south, local officials run their jurisdictions like virtual fiefdoms. And their sons and daughters learn from the start to act with even more impunity as was the case then with Vincent Bingbong Crisologo who led a band of armed goons that burned down the towns of Ora Este and Ora Centro in 1970, to Andal Ampatuan Jr. who is currently being tried for the 2010 Maguindanao massacre that took 57 lives. With the rise of the internet, YouTube and cell phones that can take pictures and videos, local officials might no longer be able to act in public with the brashness and impunity as they once did. But this might just make them more guarded and hide their nefarious deeds well away from any public scrutiny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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