DILG concludes investigation on Duterte assault next week

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to conclude early next week its investigation on Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who attacked a sheriff during a demolition operation last Friday.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo has ordered the agency’s lawyers to submit their report on the matter not later than Monday, according to DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero.

DILG lawyers Christopher Tiu and Romeo Benitez went to Davao on Monday, on orders of Robredo, to interview all those involved in the incident.

Panadero said the reports would include the statements of Mayor Duterte-Carpio, sheriff Abe Andres, bodyguards, police escorts and residents.

The DILG chief ordered probe on Duterte’s punching of sheriff Abe Andres when the latter ignored her request to delay the demolition of the squatter colony in Barangay Soliman in Agdao district for at least two hours so she could attend personally to the matter.

Duterte went on leave for five days starting Monday to allow an investigation into the incident.

Andres claimed he was not inclined to pursue the case against the mayor but Robredo said the DILG will still pursue the investigation of the possible liability of the local official involved.

He said the DILG “will complete the fact-finding with or without the testimony of Andres.”

‘Sue me’

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte challenged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to sue him for showing the dirty finger during a press conference in Davao City, which was aired on national television.

“They can do what they want to do. Sue me. File charges. Whatever,” said Duterte.

The former mayor flashed the dirty finger during the said press conference at the Grand Men Seng Hotel when asked by reporters about his reaction to criticisms against his daughter.

The elder Duterte said he will offer no excuse nor would he apologize for displaying the dirty finger on TV.

“No excuse, no apologies, do what you want to do,” he said.

On Tuesday, the CHR said that Duterte’s act of flashing a dirty finger and his cursing is a case of verbal abuse and a clear violation of human rights.

For this, CHR chair Etta Rosales urged the DILG to teach him a lesson.

Duterte said the CHR can do what they want just as he can say and do what he wants to do as part of his right to freedom of expression.

“What is your characterization of a dirty finger? Verbal abuse, what does it mean to you? You do not curtail my freedom of expression. The constitution guarantees me that right. It is my constitutional right to express myself with either my mouth or my finger. It is also my birth right. Nobody but nobody could curtail me that right,” the vice mayor reminded the CHR.

Duterte also cursed and ranted when asked about his thoughts on the criticisms from columnists and those who have posted negative comments on the popular social networking site Facebook.

Duterte has been known to throw expletives at people he does not like, even if it is aired on local or national television.

The lady mayor, for her part, has been receiving support.

The Mindanao Business Council, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and the Mindanao Youth Development Center are among those who signified their support to the mayor.

Jesuit priest and Ateneo de Davao University president Joel Tabora also said the mayor’s action was understandable.

“When anger is provoked by wrong, anger is not only justified. It is a virtue,” said Tabora in his blog last Sunday. “Anger is appropriate when provoked by wrong. The sheriff was simply wrong.”

The association of barangay captains in the city also expressed their support for the mayor given the circumstances the city went through at the time of the punching incident.

All up to IBP

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) said it is leaving to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) the fate of Mayor Duterte as far as her disbarment is concerned.

“That would be up to the IBP,” court administrator Midas Marquez told reporters when asked if Duterte’s action would warrant her disbarment.

He said his office, which has jurisdiction over all trial courts in the country, is still conducting an investigation into the incident.

Marquez was expected to receive yesterday afternoon the report from Davao City regional trial court Executive Judge Isaac Robillo. – With Edith Regalado, Edu Punay