Full Force of the Law

Re-published Editorial from MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR dated June 4, 2014 with friendly permission of the publisher Marietta F. Siongco.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte expressed anew his iron-fist stance against police scalawags in Davao City, most especially those involved in illegal drugs and "akyat bahay" burglaries that have hit a number of residences. His warning is as grim as his previous ones: policemen who are found to be involved in such crimes will be killed, a concrete display of an extraordinary mayor being so vocal about putting the law into his own hands. Davaoenos have already gotten used to Duterte's hard-hitting pronouncements against unlawful elements and even welcomes them with recognition and adulation. There are those, however, who disagree.

Duterte's confirmattion that some Davao City cops are involved in illegal drugs and are in cahoots with notorius robbers is certainly frustrating, and it is understandable that many accept the need to warn such cops that they could face liquidation if they do not stop. Policemen, after all, are supposed to protect people, not harm them. These erring policemen, regardless of their rank, are a bane to society.

But we do live in a democracy. Our system does not allow for the extrajudicial settlement of debts to society. Government itself is bound by law, and officials must show themselves as the prime practitioners and followers of the legal process. Besides, what sweeter way to punish a rogue cop than to throw the book at him and have him face the full force of the law?

They Might Come...

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte welcomes any investigation from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) amidst the recent rise of killings of suspected criminals in the city.

"They can come. I welcome them, " Duterte said when asked by media to comment on the possibility of the CHR to include him in the probe.

The rush of killings in the city and without a single case resolved by the police led to suspicions that these are state-supported.

On the other hand, the good mayor's Rody Duterte's nth statement is very clear: "If you are criminals, I advise you to leave."

Sara Duterte - Mayor of Davao City

Are really more comments needed...???

Congratulations to Mayor elect from Davao City: Inday Sara Duterte

I met Davao City mayor elect Inday Sara Duterte already several times before. I was really amazed talking with her again last week - after the elections. Yes, Miss Sara, who assumes within less than a month from now as Davao City's first woman mayor, and the youngest so far, told me a lot of her (four) priorities  and how she, together with her team, would govern till 2013.

Yes, all eyes will be on her.  A lot of work is waiting for her.  Some dramatically changes can be expected. One of her (four - or even more) priorities is to ensure that Davao City has a favourable business environment that encourages foreign investment and job development. Good. Mayor Sara - go, go, go! Peace and order? No question about it!

And how does the EDGE DAVAO Editorial from this week ends? "Sara speaks: we can expect the unexpected from another Duterte, SARA!"

From the bottom of my heart (and not only from mine), Mayor Sara: "Good luck and all the best for you and your team and the new generation politicians, such as good friend Al Ryan Alejandre, as well as Karlo Bello, Joanne and Louie John Bonguyan, just to mention a few". Yes, you can make the difference! 

Talking about young generations: Councilor Pilar Braga, also a good friend of mine and my family since many years "survived" again this election. No wonder, because she is indeed not an ordinary politician in Davao. She ran as independent. I always tried to avoid political statements on this web blog: but Braga is indeed strong on name recall. Congratulations and God bless! 

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Check out also my column in www.edgedavao.net. Just go the Competitive Section and look for my Expat-Column. This week: "All that is now past!".