Duterte cited as Davao City’s ‘Rudy Giuliani’

The city of Davao has found a "Giuliani" in Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a Department of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Victoriano Lecaros said Duterte is now emerging as the "Giuliani" of Davao City, which was wracked recently by a terrorist’s bomb that killed 21 innocent civilians and wounded 160 others.

Lecaros was referring to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who provided source of strength and inspiration to the city in the aftermath of the devastating bombing of the World Trade Center by al Qaeda terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

He noted that the fighting words of Duterte against terrorists help strengthen the morale of Davaoeños, just like what Giuliani gave to New Yorkers. Curiously, Duterte is also nicknamed "Rudy."

Duterte has given hints of taking legal shortcuts in going after terrorists as he vowed to wipe them all out within one year.

He suspects the Moro Islamic Liberation Front of being behind the bombing of the Davao International Airport last March 4 that killed 21. The MILF, however, has denied any hand in the atrocity.

"People outside Davao City may criticize Mayor Duterte’s methods, but I am sure the people of Davao City are not complaining," Lecaros said.

He said he has already received a number of text messages from people of Davao City and Filipinos abroad praising the tough-talking Duterte.

The United Kingdom, Canada, France and Australia have already issued travel advisories to their citizens and subjects against going to identified areas in Mindanao as a result of the Davao City bombing.

Lecaros said that news of the Davao bombing was also published in many key cities in Asia and Europe.

"We are concerned because it is this kind of report that leads to the issuance of travel advisories," he said.

He added, however, that he would not blame foreign governments should they warn their citizens against going to Mindanao.

"If I were not a Filipino and I did not know Davao City, I would hesitate to go there," Lecaros said.

He pointed out that Davao City had very low crime rate and the peace and order situation was exemplary until the bomb explosion last March 4.